■■■■■■■nNM 





^«ases©s^se©^s5^£^K 



■* 



THE 



I I if 11 !^ V Ul 




AND 



THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 



A POETICAL LIFE OF SAINT JOSEPH. 



The Tree under which the Mystical Rose was Planted. 
The Wall of Jasper that Surrounded the Tower of Ivory, 
The Bridegroom of the House of Gold, 



"The husband of Mary of whom teas born Jesus."— -Matthew . 
" The keeper of his Lord, him shall his Lord glorify."— Isaj a s. 
" Go to Joseph."— Genesis. 

Beloved Children, go to Joseph."— PiVS IX.— Feb., 1871. 



ROSA MYSTICA SERIES-Vol. III. 

By MARIE JOSEPHINE. 



BALTIMORE: 
KELLY, PIET AND COMPANY, 

174 W. Baltimore Street. 
1873. 



*" 



■* 



a—p_ 



»♦ — 1< 






Entered, according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1ST3, by 

KELLY, FIET AND COMPANY, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



*■ 



* 



APPROBATIONS. 



Burlington, Vt., 10th Juno, 1873. 

Miss M. J. Hemenway, Burlington, Vt. : 

I have read your new book, the House of Gold and Saint of 
Nazareth. I cannot too much commend the motive which 
prompted you to write it, which was a desire to promote devotion 
towards glorious St. Joseph. Hoping that it will attain so desira- 
ble an effect you are authorized to publish it with my imprimatur. 

f Louis, Bp. of Burlington, Vt. 



Ogdensburg, April 1G, 1873. 
Dear Miss Hemenway : 

I heartily approve of the work which you propose to publish 
in honor of St. Joseph, entitled " The House of Gold and The 
Saint of Nazareth." 

Edgar P. Wadhams, 

Bishop of Ogdensburg. 



Residence: Cathedral, Philadelphia, 
5 May, 1873. 
Miss Hemenway 

May add my name to those of the Rt. Eev'd Bishops who have 
already approved " The House of Gold and The Saint of Naza- 
reth." 

James Frederick, 

Bishop of Philadelphia. 



* 



*■ 



IV. APPROBATIONS. 

St. Joseph, Mo., June 4, 1873. 
Dear Miss Hemenway: 

After reading over some of the proof-sheets of " The House of 
Gold and The Saint of Nazareth," which I find to he a sweet 
metrical composition devoutly offered to the honor of St. Joseph , 
I subscribe with pleasure for the work and join in recommending 
it on the approbation of your own Bishop, which I am glad to see 
has been fully given. In the pages you sent me frequent mention 
is made of the holy names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and this 
alone is sufficient to freshen our piety and bring us into holy 
intercourse of adoration and prayer before the inmates of the 
Holy House of Nazareth. Your book happily and devoutly writ- 
ten on so choice a subject cannot fail to have a wide circulation 
and to do much good. It will be a welcome visitor for St. 
Joseph's sake to every Catholic family, and I look to it as likely 
to be very influential, by its holy subject and chaste style, in 
exorcising the evil spirit of licentious literature, which because 
unopposed by such efforts as yours, has too much sway in our 
midst. With sincere regard, 

f John J. Hooan, 

Bishop of St. Joseph. 




*■ 



RECOMMEND. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 



BLESSING. 



Praying God to bless you and the Work you are doing for Him, 
Very truly yours, 

|F. P., Bp. of Hartford. 



Seven Favors received for our little offering to St. Joseph ; to 
he laid with it at our good Father's feet on a leaf or two onward. 
Let us dedicate them as a commemoration to his seven joys and 
seven sorrows — Deo Gratias — All for Joseph. — Author. 



■* 



Cincinnati, 30 Jan., 1873. 
Dear Miss Hemenway : 

I shall take copies and recommend your hook. . . . Every 
female religious community ought to take one or more copies, for 
they all love and they have all received great benefits from the 
good St. Joseph. 

Devotedly in our Lord, 

J. B. Purcell, Abp. Chi. 



Extract of a Letter from Manhattan College, May 10, 1873. 
"Let me congratulate you on your noble undertaking in bring- 
in-- out ' The House of Gold.' Your really beautiful, fragrant 
•Rosa Immacidata' is earnest that your present attempt will 
prove a decided success." 



#/* 



*. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



An imposing obligation to the beautiful works of Faber — to 
that treasury of good things, the "Ave Maria" — the poetical 
Abbe Gerbet — the eloquent Orsini — to Binet's rich description of 
St. Joseph. First most grateful acknowledgements to the Right 
Reverend Prelates, who, in holy affection for St. Joseph, have 
benignly given approbation thus early, and thus kindly, to this 
humble effort to honor the Father among Saints by a sort of 
Poetical Life; after these our kindest Prelates, special gratitude, 
mid a very happy indebtedness, to all who have subscribed and 
rfcnt orders in advance of the first edition, among whom we may 
be allowed to mention, as assisting most, Rt. Rev. L. de Goesbri- 
ftiid, D. D., Most Rev. J. B. Purcell, D. D., Most Rev. John 
McCloskey, D. D., Archbishop of New York, Rt. Rev. Edgar P. 
Wadhams, D. D., Rt. Rev. James F. Wood, D. D., Rt. Rev. John 
Joseph Hogan, D. D., Rt. Rev. Francis P. McFarland, D. D., 
Rt. Rev. John Joseph "Williams, D. D., Bishop of Boston ; Rt. 
Rev. S. V. Ryan, D. D., Bishop of Buffalo ; Rt. Rev. James Gib- 
bons, D. D., Bishop of Richmond ; Rt. Rev. Thomas Foley, D. 
D., Bishop of Chicago; Rt. Rev. Patrick John Ryan, Coadj. 
Bishop of St. Louis ; Rev. H. Joseph Richter, D. D., of Cin- 
cinnati ; Rev. Thomas Preston, New York ; Rev. M. Joseph 
Finotti, Arlington Mass. ; Rev. T. McLaughlin, New Rochelle, 
N. Y. ; Rev. C. Huber, Holly Springs, Miss.; Notre Dame 
College, St. Joseph's County, Indiana; St. Mary's Academy, 
St. Jos. Co.,Ind. ; Mount St. Vincent's Academy, near Yon- 
kers, N. Y. ; Rev. A. Varsi, S. J. for Santa Clara College, 
California ; De La Salle Institute, New York ; Convent of 
the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, Michigan ; Con- 
vent of our Lady of Light, Santa Fe, New Mexico ; Sisters 
of Mercy, St. Mary's Hospital, San Francisco, Cal. ; St. 
Mary's Academy, Alexandria, Va., and several Ladies who 
have made up clubs. To all whom St. Joseph, if he owns the 
little book we have written him, will be obligated as well as 
ourself. Humbly yours, 

Miss Hemenway. 



-■■^difbt#' 



TO 



WhM Wmmw Kp©npe 

OF 

SOS* M¥BWE€$. 
THE GREAT, THE GOOD ST. JOSEPH. 



-v^^g&PfS&'Y* 



^ 



*' 



•^ 



We Lean upon Thee. 



Hail, Spouse of our Lady ! dear nurse of her Child ! 
Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild ; 
Bleak sands are all round us, no home can we see; 
Sweet Spouse of our Lady, we lean upon thee." 

O blessed Saint Joseph ! how great was thy worth, 
The one chosen shadow of God upon earth, 
Of Christ the fond guardian, ah, then, wilt thou be, 
Sweet Spouse of our Lady, a father to me? " 

Thou hast not forgotten the long, dreary road 
When Mary took turns with thee, bearing thy God," 

' Ah, give me thy burden to bear for a while, 
To kiss His warm lips and adore His sweet smile." 

' When the treasures of God were unsheltered on earth, 
Safe keeping was found for them both in thy worth ; 
Guardian of Jesus, be a father to me, 
Sweet Spouse of our Lady, and I will love thee." 



*■ 



10 



-M 



"V. Behold a man without blame, a true worshipper of 
God," 

"R. Abstaining from every evil work, and abiding in his in- 
nocence. " 



♦*♦■ 



•* 



• jM OSEPH, pure spouse of that immortal Bride 
|J Who shines in ever-virgin glory bright, 
Thy praise let all the earth re-echoing send 
Back to the realms of light." 

Not until after death their blissful crown 
Others obtain ; but unto thee was given 

In thine own lifetime to enjoy thy God 
As do the blest in Heaven.' 



J2 
^ 



■* 



DEDICATION SECOND. 

TO THE VENERABLE AND DEAR 



Baptized into the Holy Catholic Church in her eightieth year. 



,Y mother, since my mother died — almost — 
9 A melancholy year had worn out first, 
To prove what is home without a mother. 
It is not so to all. Some have made homes ; 
In another heart found love to dim th' olden — 
Children of their own hare arisen up ; 
The old ties have been transferred. But where one 
To the old nest has clung until the hand 
Of death shook it to fragments in an hour, 
It is otherwise : to sudden wake to find 
The old nest gone — a mother, still the best love, 
Gone forevermore ! — earth's forevermore. 
There are mothers of the body and of the soul : 
All mothers are the first, and it is sweet; 
But the last, her child is twice mothered : 
And the earth has not another such a gift 
As an intellectual mother: no friendship 
As that growing from the cradle to the grave, 
Only a little more beautiful, each day : 
When the circle of the fireside is shivered 
By such a blow, and all the household breaks 
And parts with it, and one who has divorced 
Herself from a world, once so kind, having chosen 
Faith, and by wearing the Virgin's rose 
Within her breast, has when the old home goes, 
No human shelter left, how sweet to find 
A mother: To walk in desolateness, live 



*• 



XIV. 

Of the world, yet, not of the world — apart — 

Until the very people that you meet seem strange — 

Thus was it with the writer of our little book — 

When in her pastor's house one day, he sent 

Her on a little visit to another soul, 

More desolate. " Go," said the kind Priest, " Go ! " 

She went with a touched, but trembling heart, 

And to-day does mind the waiting, somewhat long, 

Within the handsome parlor. Handsome, she law, 

O, how indifferently ! Gay and beautiful, 

As contrasted with the small chamber 

In th' little Community — yet, where grief, 

Most congenial loneliness found, what else, 

Beside to saddened state, accordant, most : 

Running inaudable aves over, 

As th' door opened with smart, decisive push, 

And a woman of advanced years entered, tall, 

And but for the look all distract, beautiful still ; 

As it was, with the great look of struggle 

And weariness in her face, she was grand ! 

She had been a fine, old-fashioned house-wife, 
With many maids in her day, and could not give 
Up care as many weaker house-mothers do. 
What better could she do ? She had no daughter 
In the house on which to lean. Her house was full 
With such as make, but take not care away. 
Poor, old lady ! left to battle at the helm — 
Alone ! She had just come from her preserves 
That, left with careless maid might burn. 
Her visitor, an aged woman, more weary 
And o'er-burdened than herself, saw pitiful, 
And rising up breathed but the Father's name 
The aged lady loved, when straight a look, 
A sudden gladness in those sad, dark eyes I 
Both hands were took — " You are a convtrt ! " 
Few magic words ; and by her on the sofa 
Was quite forgot, all but to pour a heart, 



* 



Sore full, into the heart of sympathy : 

In tender complaint, dear, old, childlike lady ! 

To tell how that the ladies shunned her now, 

And old acquaintance passed by. She had 

In proud sense been one the world had honored ; 

It was hard in her old age first to learn ; 

Harder yet — the only Catholic of her house 

And of her kindred, absent, the contest 

In the old circles going on to draw 

Her poor, desolate and sad-besieged soul back 

Unto them. How friendless and alone she felt ! 

But two friends that day had met, as God 

Had caused. Age come sudden, a rainbow, under, 

Grew tender and beautified in that fair hour, 

And when her visitor would go she led 

Her to the garden, where the autumn flowers lingered, 

Giving her sprays with invitation lovely 

As her flowers. " Come for another when they fade.'' 

And the flowers were carried where the sweet lamp 

Of the Sacrament burns before the Lord ; 

And for her who gave, presented at Mary's feet : 

And often as a two-weeks came, the visit 

Was renewed; and when th' winter snows covered 

Th' ground and there were no more flowers to go for, 

Or to give — within the Christmas octave — 

The elder friend drew the younger to her home, 

And took her to my heart and to my arms," 

As she would after say, " to 1st her go 

No more." 

Our venerable lady-mother, 
Seven precious years ! — the last is flitting — 
And mother, dear, old mother, did we ever 
To each other cling as now ? Strengthen not 
The ties each day ? O, there has been so much 
To make it so ! that first affable winter — 
That first communion in the Christmas days, 
For which the younger helped the elder friend 
Prepare — the mornings and the afternoons 



■* 



*■ 



XVI. 

That followed, when the dear, aged matron 
Hemmed the ruffles of her caps, and Marie 
Commenced a book for the great Saint Joseph ; 
But at the eve, while the sweet old lady 
Rested, the younger read the page redolent 
With the breath of a saint, Catholic tales, 
Or which the elder did most appreciate, 
Th' sharp, quick controversy and argument 
Of faith. To one, th' old home-evenings again ; 
The other loved to hear no one read beside ; 

' But you, you only can I understand," 
The fond pretend; and when St. Joseph's month 
Opened the spring, there was a confirmation 
In th' " sweet home," holy oils, a Bishop's hand 
Upon a bowed head of eighty-and-one years — 
Magnificent hour ! The humble Bishop 
Went in holy silence forth, when bright, swift, 
The aged, fresh confirmist rose, clasping 
Her happy sponsor in her radiant joy — 

'My child/ " imprinting it with her first kiss 
On her new Godmother-child's cheek. A lady 
Of the older school, genial, but stately, 
A kiss was a choice thing — though gracieus might 
Upon her brow from a young lip be allowed — 
'My child," she said — it was the christening word — 

" Glory to God! now have I found my home ! " 
That glad, bright gloria, that heavenly kiss, 
For she who kissed with the Holy Ghost was full- 
Crowning th' hour that seeming could not. be more 

crowned: 
And that paradisial day, brave, midway, 
The dear old soldier harnessed now for Christ, 
Starting from the soft dream, or revery, 
To protest -=" To the flesh-pots of Egypt 
I will never again look back! " In th' steps 
Of so great a grace, the precious sick days ; 
But when the daffodils began to golden 
The garden, the dear invalid looked out, 



*" 



XV11. 

And when her tulips in their dash of bloom 
Came unfurling their gay painted banners 
Up and dowa each garden walk, the two walked 
Together there. The summer also brought 
One from his business in the Capitol, 
That lighted up the aged mother's eye 
And the whole house made more bright. The one branch 
Of the early marriage of her youth and love ; 
And he for almost two-score years before, 
Of the Blessed Virgin a son, attached, 
Came with what delight to kiss his mother's lips 
And note the dear growth of the faith, cropping 
In little ways out from that aged life : 
And so for several years. The two would talk 
How much more pleasant the house, with him here : 
And the old dual solitude come round, 
Then would enjoy to be, the two, together : 
The two that together never loneliness felt ; 
But from the first day they, together, lived, 
Whoever by, missed the other, absent ; 
So intimate the two did dwell together: 
Yet, our Lord never enters to a house, 
But with Him in, He brings a cross — though kind 
To our poor weakness, He may go out to come 
In later. There were weary days and nights 
When the aged one drooped a sufferer 
And longed for the absent one, beloved, 
And the attendant one watched by her couch 
Alone, and fearful the dear one might go 
Ere he might come, who should: One of those nights 
He came, th' feeble old mother to no more leave ; 
And the sick one from that hour began to mend. 
The long winter eve, the happy invalid, 
Within the little sitting-room, now lay 
Upon her pillows, and she, who called 
Her mother, sat at her low sofa-foot 
And sewed, and the master of the house read 
To them — Father Hue in Thibet: bright evening 
if 



»M 



* 



XV11I, 

Followed bright evening— Father Hue and the Chinese 
Or he would talk of the sweets of quietude 
And home ; how we did want no visitors, 
Baring the dear Bishop to with us dino 

Some holyday — and Father L to breakfast, 

The times the Holy Sacrament was brought 

To th' dear mother-invalid in her room. 

Happy days ! The little family was complete. 

Th' winter went beautifully. Precious invalid, 

She had two to nurse her now, and, though twice 

The fever yet, in the twelve-month came back, 

When each time her pale brows shone with the oils 

For the sick, sweet restored, softly she stole, 

As it were, back to stay with her loved ones ; 

Spring came again, and she had one to take 

The garden in his care, and her to visit 

In her wheel-chair, her flowers and his improvements. 

Pleasant it was to see him take her out 

Some fine morning, first unto her flowers, and then 

Unto his garden ; unto the grapery, 

To see the shoots in their rich hues breaking 

From the naked vine, or unto the beds 

Where the pink and orange beets of a new seed 

Were growing, or to see the celery-trench, 

How large the peas had podded, his radishes, 

The twelve-rowed sweet-corn square, and all 

Of the vegetable beds and borders, and how nice 

He had the old pear tree swarded round, 

How the plum-grafts he had set were sprouting. 

Never man more petted tree or plant : 

Pleasant it was to see how well he loved 

The gardens — to observe one in mid life 

Watching the growth of things with as fresh joy 

As any young child in the city bred 

And nurtured that had never seen orchard, 

Or field, or garden grow. 

Pleasant it was 
For the three to often make these visits. 



*• 



* 



XIX. 



It was mostly such a delightful summer 

Until the suddenly darkened ending 

Of that rich August month — the last together ! 

When he who came to be so dear a staff 

T' that feeble old mother's declining days, 

Was stricken — suffered so hugely five days — 

Of the same number as our Lord's wounds — 

Dreadful days ! Th' house was darkened-half and closed, 

The aged mother wandering between the rooms, 

Lost — staggered with a fear she could not name ! 

"A martyrdom !" "A perfect martyrdom !" 
Said she who by him stood. " It is !" " It is I" 
Responding the sufferer as one who knew 
The sense — still most patient in his agonies, 
A resignment edifying, as God's children, 
Who never idly suffer, most becomes. 
Sick unto death at first — " Close up the doors," 
He cried, " and for me pray ! for a great thing 
It is, in midst of life your face to turn 
Toward eternity and in a few days 
Prepare before God to stand !" " Close up th' doors 
And let none in here but the physician 
Who cannot save !" 

It was th' midnight 
Of that first dark night — " Every moment 
For me pray !" She who had found a brother 
Equal to the mother, "every moment," answered, 

" And you ; for Mary whom you have always loved 
Will hear you : " and the sick man began to pray — 
Simple as any child. It was the old 
And dear Hail Mary. But with what emphasis 
Upon the now and at the hour of death ; 
And at the third hail to th' heavenly mother, 
Brightened, so sure, I shall be helped, he said, 
She who was by took heart, interpreting 
That he would live ; but after knew Mary 
Had her promise given ; but it was to help 



*■ 



* * 



Him to die; which how well did she redeem, 

Giving such fortitude, giving the care 

Of Priest and Sacrament; a Bishop's blessing 

For dying upon the almost unconscious head ; 

The gentle Sister of Charity to assist 

In the prayer and watch held round his bed ; 

And between the awful, swift slow hours 

Of dissolving pains, some heavenly moments 

Of the lucid intervale and respite, 

Dearer that it could but last a moment, 

Or an hour — The precious observation 

To her who by him sat through all these nights, 

1 Why wanders mother from room to room !*' " 1'ell not 
My mother ! She would die before my eyes." 

' I could not leave her with another!" " The waves 
I see!" " The waves will rise ! Yet, you must stand 
By her — you will : yet, you, before I die, 
Must promise me !" 

O, that love for his mother ! 
It was his ruling passion even in death : 
At foot of every cross there are wells 
Of consolation: this was one; and they think 
Who watched by him, that he never ceased 
To pray ; and when speech had fainted — choked — 
There was the tender inquiry of the eye 
And appeal unto your face for prayer ; — 
And when death came in the night — in an hour, 
Feared, but so sudden and unexpect'd there was 
But time for her beside him knelt to say 
The "0 Lord Jesus, thy hands, into " — 
The sweet death-rapid clear "Idol" "Idol" 
The illumined whiteness veiling instant 
O'er th' serene death-beautified countenance — 
Th' moment leave-look — eyes leveled to your face, 
Touched with vision, shedding their parting sweetness — 
Raining brightness, in their large dark loveliness, 
So surpassing — then closing— shutting down 
Their lids while softly burning, so deliberate, 



*■ 



■* 



XXI. 

Though in one moment all — it was slow — 

A never to be forgotten heavenliness — 

Without gasp, or sigh, a life had departed — 

A peace, the meekest, deepest ever seen 

On a dead face ! One could say and only say, 

Looking upon, "My peace" — " my peace, Heave 

With you." Not my triumph, not my glory, 

But sweeter far, " my peace." A mother, 

On the threshold of death, hurried in 

For the last look, an aged mother, looking 

On the new dead brow of her only son, 

Was awed and a moment held. She will tell 

To-day, " His face was as an angel when first 

I came within the door," — "the countenance 

So lamblike, meek-inclined — the dove-like peace — 

How beautiful to me he looked!" "Stayed, I was 

In wonder — I had never seen anything 

So beautiful !" 

But, when the undertaker 
Comes in the night — when there is a man dead 
In the house in the night — how awful the hours 
Unto the light ; and with the coming, how sore 
The confusion and pressure of the world without 
The two walked after the bier; — the mother 
Clung to her sole child now — others followed ; 
Those who came to weep and those who come 
Not to weep when th' sole heir of a house dies — 
A city sent its honored men to bear 
Th' pall — th' congregation of th' great cathedral 
Mourned, and the church had never in our midst, 
Done such honors for one of her laity — 
And the orphans were out in a body. 

Days followed upon which we would not touch, — 
Poor, old mother, supreme bereaved ; but the heart 
Though pierced, cannot at will die. She lived : 
There are but two now ; but still are two yet. 
There were those, it is true, too true, rushed close 

* _* 



■* 



XXII. 

On that sad funeral day, and in so strange 
And sudden way loved now that aged mother, 
Weeping o'er her fresh grave, they would have torn 
The one true friend who had become a part 
Of all her dear familiar life, also, away, 
They came, they saw, they struggled, again — 
Again — again, in this lone mourning house, 
Until the cwo hearts grew how sick, my God! 
Whai heeded they the wishes, arrangements, 
Desires of the Dead, or of .the living? 

There has succeeded sometime calm : that it might last ! 

Conflicts in good cause are even painful things: 

But, mother by God's kind help we have and will 

By God's kind help "together bide the blast !" 

And may God give so sweet a mother long, 

And when she comes to the valley of the shadow, 

Saint Joseph lend to her his staff and spread 

His mantle over her head and let her lean 

Upon his arm ; for well Saint Joseph knows 

That to him I can only give her up, 

And that when I must. We tremble, mother, 

Thou art so aged, but we cling : and to whom 

After our Saint Joseph, would I inscribe 

The dedication of our little book, 

Written with you, but to you ? You found 

Th' house for St. Joseph's book to be written in, 

And St. Joseph will be willing, I join 

You with him here in the dedication, 

Which I do as to my sweetest mother. 

Marie Josephink. 

Jan. 1, 1873. 

Dated on the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, in honor of 
Saint Joseph, the Priest upon that occasion. 




,/<- - ' <■''<< ^ 






I 



■* 



-*»-2 




The House in which Saint Joseph was Born 1 

Joseph 3 

Susannah and Jacob 7 

The Infant Joseph's Presentation 9 

Jerusalem 12 

Under the Olive Tree 16 

Saint Joseph a Brother 25 

The Trial of Jacob 81 

15, B. C 33 

First Feast of the Holy Name of Mart 38 

St. Joseph at Mary's Presentation 41 

Shall Mary Have a Spouse 44 

Mary in the Assembly of Her Kinsmen 51 

The Laying Up of the Rods 56 

Precious Preparation 58 

The Espousals of Joseph and Mary 63 

Nuptial Lilies 68 

Leaving the House of Her God 70 

Bridal Journey of Joseph and Mary 74 

On the Hill 78 

In the House of Jacob 80 

Virgin Boses 81 

Five Moons of Gold or Lady-Day 88 

Incarnation Mornings 93 

Trial of Saint Joseph 101 

Funeral of the Blessed Virgin's Mother 112 

Incarnation Months' Gompleting 113 

From Nazareth to Bethlehem 118 

Bethlehem 123 



*' 



■* 



xxiv. CONTENTS. t 

From Bethlehem to Jerusalem 15j 

Presentation of Jesus 15f> 

Going Home with Jesus 158 

A Family Visit at Nazareth 162 

King-Day 167 

Bearing God to a Place of Safety 178 

Egypt 191 

My Son Out of Egypt 214 

Nazareth 219 

Joseph and Paradise 265 

Passion-Tide in Limbus 208 

Jesus in Paradise 281 

Joseph and Heaven 285 

Peacefulness 286 

Annotations 291 




*.** 



*•■ 



■* 




Honing jSluffh, 

THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

THE WELL-SPRING IN THE HOUSE OF JACOB. 

"AndMathan begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Joseph, the husband 
pj Mary of whom was boi'n Jesus." — Mat. i. 16. 

"A Babe in the House is a Well-spring of Joy." 

THE EVE OF THE PATRIARCHAL LIFE. 

F the dawn of that patriarchal day was fair in 
which Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived, how 
tender and illumined must have been the sunset 
in which Mathan and Jacob and Joseph walked : 
the three first patriarchs, the three last patriarchs that pre- 
cede the Messiah. Let us contemplate that long line of 
patriarchs and kings ending in Saint Joseph. 




THE HOUSE IN WHICH SAINT JOSEPH 
WAS BORN. 

A GOODLY Galilean house in the suburbs 
Of the town — a room in the rear of the house — 
A sweet, retired and pleasant room. Jacob 
And Susannah — the pious young parents 
Of Saint Joseph — contemplating their first-born. 



*■ 



THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Susannah. 
See his brows ! Jacob, and his eyes ! 

Jacob. 

An heir 
- In his house, for whom David need not blush. 

Susannah. 

I have borne thee a son — and now — (smiling) 

Jacob. 

Thy husband will, as Lia saith — 

Susannah. 

Nay ! nay ! 
Dear spouse, I have not need ! not need ! 

Jacob. 

The heart 
Of thy husband doth in thee confide ? Well ! 
Rosy, little wife, it is well ; and yet this pledge 
Binds still more close. We are a family 
Now before the Lord. 

Susannah. 

Rounded out complete. 

Jacob. 

Or good begun. 

Susannah. 
Ah ! well, my lord, what makes 
Families ? The Lord be praised ! 

Jacob. 

The Lord be praised ! 
The hearth is cold, indeed, where children rise 
Not up and sport. The gracious Lord be praised. 



*■ 



* 

JOSEPH. 3 

JOSEPH. 

On the eighth day the infant shall be circumcised.'" — Lev. xii, 0. 

11 HE pleasant room we have looked in before : 
Its couch with its mother of one octave — 
Beulah, a younger sister of Susannah, — 
Pretty and dear young nurse, making ready 
For visitors. What a lovely room ! 
The couch, resting upon lion-paws, carved 
Of some^ choice dark wood and its tapestries 
Of needle-work — curtains of fine linen 
With scarlet fringes, looped back — coverlet 
Of the softest woolen fabric, snow-white, 
With raised work of roses — patterns of th' rose 
Of Sharon all over it, twining sceptres — 
A small table opposite stands, also, 
Upon a lion's back — th' head looking out 
From under the bed of the board, the tail 
Whisked around one leg. It was a privilege 
Of the families of the tribe of Judah 
To use this emblem in their furniture, 
As it was, moreover, to appropriate 
Scarlet colors ; — the floor and the ceiling 
Of cedar, and a wainscotting inlaid 
With palm figures of almug-wood. Her lord, 
Susannah's, was of the house of the king — 
It was a bower of sweetness. 

The red 
Is just coming back to our young mother's cheek. 
She reclines complacently upon the couch. 
The sweet lattice is open to the east, 
Through which is seen a lawn where " camels 



"* 



*- 



THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Of colors as various as the flowers," 

Are feeding. The delightful rooming air 

Comes in at the open lattice — a bird 

Sings on a thorn-tree without — Beulah, 

Going in and out, humming a dear song 

Of David's — of the "loving kindness" — 

Teaching th' rose-stems to stand with the lilies 

In an alabaster vase on the table 

By th' wall — hovering round another pretty piece 

Of carpenter-work that stands in the centre 

Of the room — hanging garlands on the sides 

Of a cradle where the two great-mothers, — 

Th' mother of Jacob and th' mother of Susannah — 

Will lay the dear infant when circumcised, 

And when she has disposed her garlands, brings 

Th' crown Susannah had worn at her spousals 

And lays it upon the head of the cradle ; 

Stands back — looks at her work with approbation ; 

Goes and kisses the cheek of Susannah, 

Removes the little embroidered blanket 

From the head of the babe in the bosom 

Of her sister — discovers our infant, 

In babe-bands, curious with needle-work. 

Beulah is espoused, but not yet given 

In marriage, fair virgin! The babe awaked 

By the uncovering, smiles into her eyes, 

Which straightway she reports to all in the house. 

How affable a grace from God makes one ! 

And this babe was a great grace from God — a gift 

From the good God to that home — a great gift. 

But by this time the relatives and friends 
Commenced t' assemble, among whom were Joachim 



*■ 



■* 



JOSEPH. 5 

And Anna, at this period some years married, 

She as yet not having had any child. 

All the guests brought presents to Susannah, 

As was the custom at this feast ; and the hour 

Having come for the ceremony, the men 

Came to the door. It was contrary to th' law 

They should enter, but standing before th' door, 

Mathan standing first, the father of Jacob, 

And oldest man present, offering thanks 

To the Lord for his family, inquired, 

As was the opening of the ceremony, 

By what name the child should be circumcised. 

And Rebekah, mother of Jacob, grandmother 

Unto the babe, made answer for the women 

Assembled within the room of Susannah : 

Rachel, who was beloved, as Lia, likewise, 

The spouse less loved, named the sons that they bore. 

Our daughter, as th' custom in Israel, should speak 

(The venerable matron turning toward the couch 

Upon which her young daughter-in-law sat) ; 

For thou hast borne an heir unto our house, 

Our first seed's seed ; and this day and from hence 

Art unto us as a daughter from our womb. 

And Susannah, a soft glow of happiness 

Coming into her face, mentioned the name 

Of Joseph, if pleasing to their parents. 

And Mathan, standing, outstretching his arms, cried, 
Jacob had a son. He loved him and made 
For him a coat — the colors a variety. 
He showed to him favor, and his brethren 

Envied him. But the sheaves of his brothers 
i» 



■* 



*■ 



+1 



(> THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Bowed unto his sheaf, and the eleven stars 
And the sun and the moon did obeisance. 
And they, still envious lest that he should rule 
Over them, sold him into servitude 
Unto the Egyptians. But th' Lord prospered 
Joseph even in the house of the Gentiles. 
He was tempted, but endured and sinned not. 
He was cast into the prison, but lived 
To interpret the dream of the king and ride 
In the chariot of Pharo — to give 
Bread unto all Egypt and to his brethren. 
To give bread unto the hungry — to bear 
Bread in his hands unto those who famish — ■ 
May the name of this our son be Joseph ! 
Which last was by prophecy ; for Joseph 
When he bore Christ in his arms bore the Bread 
That came from Heaven for all who famish. 

Then th' scribe wrote th' name on the roll of the tribe, 

And they carried the babe in procession 

To the synagogue, where he was circumcised. 

And while they were gone to the synagogue 

The servants of Susannah spread two banquets ; 

And when Jacob and his kinsfolks returned, 

And the two mothers had installed the babe 

In th' cradle, all sat down with contentment 

To the banquets prepared in abundance — 

The women to a banquet in the apartment 

Of Susannah, and the men to the banquet 

Of Jacob in another apartment. 

This was the first feast for Saint Joseph. 

" Holy Joseph, we beseech thee, hear us." — Lit. of St. Jos. 



■* 



•* 



SUSANNAH AND JACOB. 



SUSANNAH AND JACOB. 

Their kinfolk being departed, Susannah fondling the dear babe 
with maternal sweetness — Jacob bending over the young mother 
and the child. Proud father, it is his child and his spouse — and 
the child, the infant Joseph. 

Jacob. 

It is brave, he wept not ! Not a tear fell ! 

Susannah. 
A sign of peace. 

Jacob. 
A promise of great peace 
And of benediction. Blessed are they who have seed ! 

Susannah. 
Anna sighed as she kissed my child — the hands 
And the feet of my babe. 

Jacob. 
It is a sorrow 
To Joachim, they have no children. 

Susannah. 

Anna 

Was espoused some years before me, and hath no son. 

Jacob. 
And Joachim, the man most pious in Israel. 

Susannah. 

And Anna is worthy : 
May the Lord, as me, make her a mother. 

(A silence — Susannah gazing into the face of the babe — Jacob 
for a long time regarding the meditative face of Susannah.) 

£_ — _,. * 



*■ 



8 THE SAINT OF NAZAKETH. 

Jacob. 
What for thy thought now, my fair spouse? 

Susannaii. 

Dear babe ! 

(Involuntarily first caressing the child, and then looking up 
into her husband's happy and considering eyes.) 

That first Joseph, he may hear of this child? 

Jacob. 
And pray for the new stalk bearing his name? 
May he so ask holiness and wisdom, 
And his incorruptible chastity, 
And all his great virtues. 

Susannah. 

Our sweet Joseph ! 

Jacob. 
Whether from the chambers of the saints they see 
Us, we know not, yet may pious presume 
Those from our tribes and our families 
May go in with knowledge and messages. 
A good name! and we are blest, Susannah, 
Before the Lord our God. A king could not 
Be more — a son of such sweetness and promise ; 
Our first-born ! May he grow up before the Lord 
As Joseph the patriarch in his youth. 



*■ 



g 

THE INFANT JOSEPH'S PRESENTATION. 9 

THE INFANT JOSEPH'S PRESENTATION. 

" They carried him to Jerusalem to present him to the 
Lord." — Luke ii, 22. 

" Humble Imitator of the Incarnate Word, pray for us." — 
Litany. 

AND when forty days had come, Jacob took 
With him Susannah and the child, his friends 
And kinfolk, and went up to Jerusalem 
To present his first-born before the Lord. 

In the courts of the temple contemplate 

The young patriarchal father, Jacob, 

And his pious, youthful spouse, Susannah, 

Like the young rose-tree of the gardens 

Of Galilee, bending over her own dear bud, 

So fair ! More holy than all the women there, 

Save the barren and commiserated Anna, 

Or the pious Elizabeth, the saintly spouse 

Of the zealous and godly priest Zachary. 

Which was holiest — Elizabeth, Susannah? 

Mother of Joseph? Mother of the Baptist? 

Elizabeth walked with Anna by the side 

Of Susannah — Susannah bearing her babe. 

Jacob and the men proceed to the court ^ 

For the men — Mathan, his father, with Jacob; 

All of his brethren and of his kinsmen ; 

And th' women went into th' court for th' women : 

Both courts overlooked the sanctuary. 

Susannah bore her babe unto the door 

Of the court of th' altars, and gave the infant 

* 



10 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Into the arms of the priest, saying, " I come 

To offer to you the gift which God gave 

To me." And the priest presented the child 

Upon the altar — and uncovering his head 

Made a prayer. Jacob, his father and brethren 

Bowed with him down in the court of the men ; 

Susannah, with Anna and Elizabeth, 

Th' mother of her spouse and her own mother, 

Who was a widow, knelt within the court 

Of the women opposite. And when the priest 

Had concluded the prayer, Jacob approached 

With a lamb and five shekels of silver,* 

And implored the priest to accept the lamb 

And the silver for the child. And the priest 

Bore the child to its mother, who had arisen 

And stood in waiting at the door of th' court 

Of the women ; and as the priest drew near, 

All the women with her remaining, knelt — 

Susannah, kneeling down, received to her arms 

The child — kissed its lips and in low words thanked 

God, as in the rite. A voice, tremulous 

And full of love, was Susannah's. 

And the priest 
Passed over tj Jacob, holding the lamb 
Tethered with a cord that was scarlet — 
The poor lamb dumb before its sacrificers — 
Two Levites assisting, — Jacob and the men 
And Susannah and the women in the courts, 
Bowing low down their heads before the Lord 



*See description of the ceremony— Leviticus. 



*" 



- ,£, 

THE INFANT JOSEPH'S PRESENTATION. 1 1 

And smiting their breast — the victim was slain. 

The priests dipped the hyssop branch in the blood. 

The altar was sprinkled, and what was left 

The priest let drop at the bottom thereof.* 

The smoke of the sacrifice arose a savor. 

The prayer of Jacob and Susannah was heard, 

And of all that prayed with them — Zachary 

The priest, Mathan, Joachim and Anna, 

Kebekah, Sarah and Elizabeth. 

The babe reposed upon his mother's breast, 

His mild, infant eyes raised the meantime 

To heaven. 

Precious babe, we contemplate 
Thee and thy pious parents on their knees, 
And remember how thou, too, wilt yet come 
As a virgin father with thy pure spouse, 
Bearing Life in her arms — that one mother, 
0, so much fairer than thy own fair mother, 
Infolding thee beautifully ! Mystical babe, 
Whose representative thou shalt be and come 
With whom, and bring whom, what a father 
Thou wilt be ! That thou, little Joseph-babe 
Will yet bring God here as a son ! 

Joseph, 
The aged man, or the middle-aged, past 
A little — whom we always associate 
In our pictures of Jesus and Mary, 
And Bethlehem and Egypt and Nazareth — 
Joseph, that noble and patriarchal man, 



*" And of the blood he shall sprinkle the side of the altar; whatever 
is left he shall let drop at the bottom thereof. "—Lev. v. 9. 



* 



12 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Or that grand, old man leaning on a staff, 

Bland all his face, beard as immaculateness, 

Venerable protector of the Madonna mother, 

Is this the bud of all that augustness, 

Sanctity, sereneness, paternalness, peace? 

The beginning of the man who shall picture 

The Father in Heaven upon the earth ? 

Our babe here? his parents having presented 

Him unto the Lord as he shall present, 

With Mary, Jesus within this temple. 

It is a new picture to us of Joseph, 

Yet one that must have been — th' Infant Joseph. 

Benevolent Father, in memory 

Of thy pure infancy, look down 

Upon thy orphanages and thy pupils ! 

Pray for the little ones committed to thy care. 

"Through all thy virtues, St. Joseph, help tjs. m 



JERUSALEM. 

"JERUSALEM MY HAPPY, IIAPPV HOME." 

JOSEPH having become twelve years of age, 
Jacob and Susannah when they went up 
As their wont to the feast at Jerusalem, 
Took him with them: As they journeyed, Jacob 
Pressing on with eagerness, that his son 
May see Jerusalem — till having come 
Abruptly around the base of a hill, 
They stood suddenly still, gazing downward: 



♦> 



•* 



JERUSALExM. 13 

"The little party had been following for some time a rugged 
path which crossed the table-land of the barren mountain, when 
(Jacob) suddenly stopped at an abrupt turn of the rock and 
stretched his arm toward the south with an emotion of religious 
exaltation mingled with national pride. The object which he 
thus pointed out to his companions was well worthy of being 
remarked, for Asia had nothing then more magnificent." . . . 
" It was a city of about thirty-three stadas in circumference, set 
in stone like a ruby of Belochistan; a city of marble, of cedars, 
of gold, whose splendor held in it something gloomy, ferocious, 
suspicious, denoting an unsettled power and a permanent dread 
of the stranger ; a state of things abounding in strange contrasts. 
There were seen enormous towers magnificent as palaces, and 
palaces fortified like citadels. Its temple radiant with gold, 
stood glittering on a narrow table-land of the highest mountain, 
like the full-orbed moon when it rises over the snowy heights of 
Lebanon. It was almost an impregnable fortress, held in awe 
by the people of God, while the tower of Antonia, with its four 
elegant turrets of polished marble, kept zealous and unceasing 
watch over the precincts of the temple. A triple enclosure of 
massive stone walls with ninety forts encompassed that singular 
city, and all around it lay gloomy valleys, dizzy heights and in- 
accessible rocks. That stately and warlike city . . . under the 
cloudless sky of Palestine, was that terrestrial paradise so poet- 
ically mourned on the banks of the Euphrates, the city of David 
and the Macabees ; that Jerusalem which even in its slavish 
subjection is still hailed throughout the East by the ancient ap- 
pellation then given it by the father of (Joseph), El Coi>s (the 
Holy City) ! "— Orsini. 

Jacob, touched with the glory of Jerusalem — 
He is a Hebrew — stands, every time he comes up 
To worship, to gaze from this stand-point — 
Every time longer — arm extended, body 
Leaned suspended forward, eye distended, 
Pointing it out to his young son, Joseph — 
A fresh face full of beautiful interest 
Serene Susannah knelt in a soft rapture, 
Gazing down on the glorious old city, 
" Jerusalem, my happy, happy home!" 
It hath two ties for her: religion, birth. 
2 



*■ 



14 THE SAINT OF NAZAKETH. 

Susannah was born in Jerusalem. 
There she lived till she became Jacob's spouse. 
She can see from where she now kneels the street 
That leads to Sarah's house — the top of th' palms 
That hang over the little flat-roofed house. 
The memories of her sainted father are dim, 
But her mother, th' aged Sarah, dwells there, 
And will be looking for their coming to-day ; 
And her prayer was soon said. It was fervent, 
But short. She arises. She waits to go 
To th' dear city down, Jacob discovers, 
And glad for Susannah twice for himself — 
He so proud of Jesusalem — gaily precedes. 
Susannah taking the hand of Joseph 
Follows after. What a beautiful boy 
She has to bring home for her mother's blessing. 
Now they go down. Now they pray at the gates. 
" Let us go into her gates with praise I " 
The streets of the city of their God ! Jacob 
Trod them as a Hebrew and an upright man 
Made glad, and as a son of David. 
Sweet Susannah, every turn looks familiar. 
Her heart dwells in the home of her husband 
Far up in Galilee, but she is returning 
With Jacob to-day and bringing Joseph : 
And Joseph shared the joy of his mother ; 
But shy and silent, fair boy, tall for his years, 
He walks by his mother, seeing all these things 
For the first time with a modest exultance. 

They go up th' street where Susannah's mother 
Lives; in at the little court before the house; 



*■ 



JERUSALEM. 15 

The servant watching at the gate, hastened 
To tell unto Sarah her daughter cometh ; 
The aged Sarah, come out to the threshold, 
Has fallen upon the neck of her daughter 
And kissed her, and welcomed Jacob and brought 
Them into her house, where they will abide 
During the feast. 

Sarah had lived to see a seed 
That was goodly, and Susannah was youngest 
Of her own born ; and she showed preference 
To Joseph, and as he sat at her feet 
She told him of Elias his grandfather, 
Of his godly life and how well he died, 
And spoke of her own death likewise as near, 
And expressed the hope to him, he might live 
To see the Messiah before he should die ; 
And the words of the venerable Sarah 
Dropped into the heart of the boy at her feet. 
She was pleased moreover with his knowledge 
Of the Scriptures and of the traditions 
Which had been taught him by his pious parents : 
And meantime Joseph went with his parents 
Up to the sacrifices and to the prayers 
That were offered each day in the temple. 

" / will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all His peo- 
ple : in the courts of the house of the Lord. 1 ' 1 

Let us regard Joseph of that same age 

As Jesus Christ when he came with his parents 

Up to the feast at Jerusalem. Jesus 

Will yet come with him up to the temple 

As he has come up now with his parents. 



'* 



* 

16 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

It is beautiful to see Joseph kneel 

In the very same place where Jesus, a boy 

Of the same age, will pray. 

Susannah tarried 
With Sarah yet some days after the feast, 
And when she would return to her own home, 
Her mother fell sick and took to her bed, 
And that same day she died ; her children 
And her children's children gathered around, 
And she blest all those, and last, Susannah 
And her spouse and Joseph, of whom she foretold 
Great things. 

Susannah remained for the funeral 
Of her mother, and Joseph pondered all 
Of these things. It was th' first time he had seen 
Death. After this he went with his parents 
Up to the feast at Jerusalem every year. 



UNDER THE OLIVE TREE. 

(Soon after the return from the feast at Jerusalem.) 

I. 

Through pastures broad and patriarchal, 

From vintage and from house to-day, 
We track an ancient, fresh field-way. 

Sweet wood ! We halt by head of desert-spring, 
Seven lilies in white stoles around it ring ; 
Here dips the mountain-bird her freckled wing. 



*■ 



* 

UNDER THE OLIVE TEEE. 17 

The spot where flowers the shy anemone ; 
The woodland rose of fairest Galilee, 
Here knits around the wild-born olive tree : 
A spot so fair and kept so hiddenly, 

Is seldom seen. In prayer, and rapt since morn, 
What sacred boy, or youth of angel form ? 
Half-mystic child, or youth with virtues born,* 
Unfolding as some rose upon its native thorn, 
In scent and bloom, bright as the saint adorn, 

Who lives the ascetic page of life to fill, 
From youth to age, the stubborn soil to till 
Within the human heart and train the will, 
Long-wearing years to suffer and be still, 
And find alike our peace in good or ill, 
Until we win and climb the Heavenly Hill. 

The softest zephyr hushed, no pulse a-beat 
In all the hallowed airs surrounding sweet 
This paradisial solitude within complete 
Where G-od and nature recollected meet, 
And creature love may sigh and free intreat, 
Bowed at the here beneficent Creator-Feet ; 
Who is it in this holy, hid retreat? 

II. 

This dearest nook of all dear Palestine ! 

* Vide Binet's Life of St. Joseph. His ingenuous argument for the 
pre-sanctification of St. Joseph. If Jeremias had an ante-natal 
regeneration for his vocation (Jer. i, 6), and St. John the Baptist 
(Luke i, 15), would not St. Joseph, whose office was so much nearer 
to and more intimate with God? 
2" 

— 4 



**' 



18 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Below an emerald sward — the freshest moss, 
The tree above — its arms a greenwood cross. 

The still suggestion here of what's to bide, 
The shadow of what other stern hillside — 
What other Tree whose type doth here abide. 

The brown rocks closed around in quaintly si ape, 
Where clambering vines the rough sides deftly drape, 
And where not mantles yet the mountain grape, 
The lichen spreads on higher heights its friendly cape. 

Where tree and rock all teach in lesson fair, 

And recollectedness distilling everywhere, 

The seal of God upon the very air, 

A wildwood sanctuary formed for prayer — 

His prayer — of this dear spot, my God, what care ! 

Out-shut, 0, other world ! take sense thy bound, 
Suppress my ear of earth, each sigh, or sound; 
Nor spot more closed is out of Eden found : 
Grim trees lowered half immutably profound — 
Take deep my soul, the picture of this prayer-ground, 
Rock, tree — the ancient fir king's cloistered round — 

Gnarled trunks that since the primal morn have stood, 

Or the dim days that border from the flood, 

Th' little spring — chaste nature's tidal life, or blood 

Of crystal flow — this precious solitude, 

Where all embowered is touched and sealed and good ; 

Where from the hawk the wild dove flies to brood, 

Whose fragrance steals through all the neighoring wood. 

* ■ i 



, , * 

UNDER THE OLIVE TREE. 19 

III. 
Dear Joseph's bower ! This sweetest flower-lined glen ! 

The violet-blooms on either bank we view ; 
Here smiles the pansie-maid in robe of blue, 

Or there, in dignity of velvet coronet 

And purple cape, soft-streaked in line of jet, 

Our lord, the little bishop-violet, 

Or there, in tiny, golden buds unrolled, 
Each slender stalk a chalice lifts as gold, 
Or petals that the sweetest sugars hold, 
Nectar in dainty cups of yellow mould. 

While Joseph prays upon this violet-floor, 
In speechless worship rapt — his eyes before, 
With him, sweet flowers, how fragrant 'ye alore, 
Whose heart for sweetness to the very core. 
Is as your honey-laden brims and more. 

And there those heavenlier pansies grow, 

The virgins of the violets here blow ; 

Th' pearl of flowers, its feet in earth, from below, 

Drawing whiteness only, as the snow, or a glow — 

Immaculate — one violet-white word, we know, — 

Immaculate in hood and dress of snow. 

And like those other violets of God, 
Those fair retiring flowers of Mary's- rod, 
Whose feet, while still to earth, are lovely shod 
In peace and stainless from the sordid clod ; 
Who tremble at the gay world's slightest nod, 
And never shed the delicacy of their sweets abroad, 
But bloom as violets white upon th' cloistered sod. 

I 

,$, . * 



% .*$» 

20 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

IV. 

But hark ! the ardent sweets of adoration ! 

Poured fervent forth for God, so free, so staunch, 
The pure abandon, 'neath the olive-branch :* 

' One is the rounded earth and moon, and one 
The ever-radiant and light-pouring sun, 
And one each virgin life as fresh begun. 

' The sun that gives to painted morning birth, 
Pours all his light to thee and recollected earth, 
Her flowers, and all her streams their generous mirth, 
Good God! in all Thy works there is not dearth. 

' One is his earth, one is his sun, his sky, 
In grand completeness poured, all offered lie 
Beneath the sovereign footstool prone, and cry : 
All, all unto the Lord who forms, Most High ! 
All, all is God's, and God to them forever' nigh. 

' All move accordant to the upper law ; 
I looked in nature and in nature saw 
Who pitying hears the feeblest sparrow's caw, 
Who mindful fills the wild beast's paw ; 
And thus my soul beholding, Lord, with awe 
Was touched and hope ; all things unto Thee draw. 



* The first account the mystics give of Joseph, he is seen in the 
vision of one of the saints, at the age of twelve years, praying un- 
der an olive tree, when he made the vow of chastity. 



* 



g 

UNDER THE OLIVE TREE. 21 



Pure as these lilies round, I glad agree 

To keep this flesh as flowers their fragrancy. 

I yield each sense, I proffer chastity, 

Thy favor, Lord, let Thy young servant see ! 

And in Thy larger kindness, father me ; 

So let me draw, sweet God, with all to Thee ; 

Thy virgin son let me forever be ! ' 



V. 

What lifted look ! what generous pleading! 

Feed, soul, upon that tender growing smile, 
That halo forming in the airs, erewhile. 

In the still airs around that youthful head, 

The heaven-sunned lilies double fragrance shed. 

Hlest spot ! a soul to God is being wed ! 

By high and marvelous as sacred vow, 

Never heard from lip of man till now ; 

Thus a halo, heavenly, widening, rings that brow, 

Drop, my soul, in reverence, low in worship bow ! 

God is raining upon that fair soul light, 
And covering it with robe of His own white, 
God is giving it His kiss of hidden rite; 
Bow and veil in tears thy spotted sight, 
Before the 'spousals with the Infinite. 

Blest Joseph! love pervades thy atmosphere, 

More soft, more rich, in deepened glow more clear, 

All the purpled, amber airs appear ! 

Sing, my soul, with adoring, prudent fear, 

Heaven is over-leaning very, very near, 

God with Joseph now by grace is infolding here. 



■* 



h 

22 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

God His sweetness in a moment can impart, 

Pierce the proffered soul so sweetly with His dart 

It is not sacrifice with sense to part, 

Or sacrifice is woundless, without smart : 

It is only He, but God, that has such art; 

Fresher flowers now or virtue's instant start : 

God is doing wonders in that royal heart. 



VI. 

And none to mark — angelic offering ! 

None ? The very bee that drones amid the rose 
Has stole a secret through the petals half a-close. 

The honey-bird will hang suspended o'er the flower?, 
The dove will sit in yonder cleft as many hours, 
As her wild glen this saint-boy, rapt, embowers. 

Her mate the turtle here forgets to moan, 
The wandering bee-bird drops her wildering tone, 
Nor straying zephyr dares to claim the spot his own, 
Where consecrated Joseph kneels to pray alone. 

I've said that here the dove forgets her coo, 
Nor worldly sound breaks in, nor pasture-loo, 
And beast and reptile shun this recess, too, 
And all things mutely here to worship woo, 
God to adore, is all the soul here knows to do. 



*■ 



UNDER THE OLIVE TREE. 23 

No wile can pierce so heavenlyized a spot, 

Or Satan's hosts are barred so charmed a grot ; 

No dart of hell within hath ever shot. 

0, blessed spot! by demon eyes forgot. 

0, chastest youth ! 0, fragrant virgin lot! 

My soul ! Yet there are visitants, we wot, 

Or one whose deep eyes shed unutterable things, 
Great Raphael,* most human angel, from whose wings 
Drop silent lights and sanctities. Thy fathers' offerings, 
Thou crownest, boy! Look up, young son of kings, 
"What joy to thee, what joy to me, thy pure vow brings ; 
The lingering halo round thy soft brow rings, 
And higher up for joy the gladdened heaven sings. 



VIT. 

None to mark, I sighed, none this sacrifice ! 

When the very world might stop to gaze 
And glorious transform in its virgin ray's. 

None, my soul! Above where the bright stars roll, 
There's the Uncreated Child, by his promised dole, 
Gazing very interested down upon this soul. 



* Tradition does not name, as we are aware, the guardian angel of 
St. Joseph. St. Gabriel being the angel guardian of Mary and St. 
Michael of the Divine Humanity of our Lord, who of the angels may 
so like be supposed to be the angel guardian of Joseph as St. Raphael ? 
Who among the angels and Joseph does there seem such similarity 
between, as between Raphael and St. Joseph? 



'* 



24 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Sees the shades of Nazareth, where sweet shall rest 
His Infant Brow on that fond, fervent breast, 
Incarnate Love within those kind arms prest, 
And for his destiny the praying boy -is blest. 

Who earliest bids to sense a saint's adieus, 
Who gives to God each pulse shall never lose, 
Who gives to God, the good, doth wisely choose, 
And God from hence His sweet prize dearer views. 
And hence ;=ome tender crowning of His dews. 

Vision of peace ! youth of twelve summers mild 

And fair, thy sanctity hath my poor heart beguiled. 

Neath the lone olive in this solitary wild, 

I see the guardian of the Immortal Child, 

To whom the Eternal Babe looked down and smiled. 

God keep thee, as He will, as now, His undefiled. 

But how this dear life opened for our view 

At this fair page, how smiling onward grew, 

Unfolded close with God, none ever knew, 

So hidden and so holily to God it drew. 

We only know it must have kept the morning hue, 

The early sweetness of celestial dew, 

Its fervency, its faith, its troth, angelic true. 

"By thy Chastity, St. Joseph, pray for us." 



* 

SAINT JOSEPH A BROTHER. 25 

SAINT JOSEPH A BROTHER. 

(An imaginary glimpse of St. Joseph, not long after he had 
made his vow, shewing his little sister through the hedge and 
olive wood beyond.) 

SoBA. 

The hawthorn is the lady of the hedge, 
Brother; the blossoms are ruddy and white. 

How beautiful ! 

Joseph. 

Red is the color of charity. 
Thou knowest the commandment, little sister? 

Soba. 
" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God." Our father 
Teaches it in the porch on Sabbath nights. 
I shall remember it alway — the white now, Joseph '? 

Joseph. 
One is my perfect one and immaculate. 

Soba. 
All hath sin, Joseph, all, my brother, saith 
Jacob, our father — the trail of the serpent. 

Joseph. 
A woman shall crush the snake, a woman, 
Little sister, and there shall be one born, 
If she is not alive now upon the earth, 

She shall be white. 

Soba. 

So is it beautiful, 

A woman, to be, though men think not so ; 

Beautiful! for she will be of our sex. 
s 

♦4 



* * 

2(> THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Joseph. 
Even so : All women lift to englorify : 
The moon rises to walk the floor of heaven, 
And all the stars arise to with her walk : 
Virgins shall arise and walk with her as stars — 
The Lily of the Lord and of Israel ! 

(Coming to paths bordered with violets.) 
SOBA. 

Blessed be the forest ! See the violets, 
Brother ! 

Joseph. 
The yellow is gathered for its sugar, 
Which is distilled by an art from its flowers ** 
That is known unto the perfume-maker 
And famed and precious with apothecaries. 
The purple is larger. 

SOBA. 

And grander, Joseph ; 
And you always bring purple violets 
For your nosegays for the synagogue. 
I gather all that is beautiful. I cannot leave 
Anything beautiful, such is my passion. 
I bring the rose-color, the blue, the golden, 
You but violet-blows and white lilies ; 
And, Joseph, your offering is always sweetest. 
Do you gather them here? 

Beautiful '. Beautiful ! 

[Joseph was shewing Soba the violet-glen : 
Joseph was parting the bough of a tree — 
Soba peering in — but she entered not in 
And Joseph went not in, for it was, th' spot, 

ft * 



_ ,* 

SAINT JOSEPH A BROTHER. 27 

As the sanctuary of a vow : But Joseph 
Could not be selfish. He told none his vow, 
But he parted the boughs and Soba looked, 
And she saw it was beautiful; but she saw 
Not as Joseph; and they turned from the glen, 
And in the borders of the wood they sat 
Under a sycamore tree, and Joseph 
Shewed unto his sister a list of the trees 
Mentioned in Scripture that he had made out 
With the scribe at the synagogue, who taught 
Him letters; and Soba listened, and Joseph 
Described all the trees from Deborah's palm 
To the oaks of Bashan, the almug and fir, 
Th' trees of th' wood and of Solomon's gardens, 
All thereby more sacred for the Holy Ghost 
Having left them pictured upon the leaves 
Of the word of God.] 

Joseph. 

"As the apple tree 
Among the trees of the wood, so is my love 
Among the daughters." 

Soba. 

And the rabbin thinks 
The time near? 

Joseph. 
Near. 

Soba. 

May our eyes live to see 
Her. 

Joseph. 
May we live to see her ! She shall bring 

Peace. 

Soba. 

And be very pure ! 

Joseph. 

What should the mother 
Of the Messiah-King be? 

* * 



*■ 



28 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Sob a. 

Very fair ? 

Joseph. 
As the hawthorn full of flowers, " the mother 
Of fair love." She will be, little sister, 
As the clove among the trees of the wood. 

(J. long pause.) 
Soba. 
How beautiful must God be ! 

Joseph. 

How beautiful ! 



AFTER TWELVE YEARS OLD. 

"We know nothing of the beginnings of this wonderful Saint. 
Like the fountains of the sacred river of the Egyptians, his early 
years are hidden in obscurity which his subsequent greatness 
renders beautiful. ' ' — Faber. 

THE days passed from his twelfth year, the lad 
Growing in humility and holiness; 
It must have been, albeit we have no record, 
Save as we know by the tint of the fruit 
Of the summer. Says one who loved Joseph : 

" God pressed him closely to Himself as a mother almost hides 
her child in her bosom by the closeness of her embrace. He 
communicated with God in his hours of sleep as if his sleep was 
but the mystical slumber of contemplation. . . . We cannot 
describe his holiness, because it was not only holier in degree 
than that of the saints, also different in kind, but it was emi- 
nently hidden with God. . . . One of God's eternal ideas . . . 
which He most cherished and kept near to Himself. . . . He 
was doubtless high in sanctity before his espousals with Mary. 
God's eternal choice of him would seem to imply as much." 

* * 



* 

AFTER TWELVE YEARS OLD. 20 

It seems such was, must have been, his goodness 
Whom God honored with a choice, I know not 
Whether more sweet and more admirable 
Than that other vocation to be Mary's sire : 
To be the father of the Virgin Mary ! 
To be the father of the Queen of Heaven! 
Only as th' supernatural is above th' natural, 
Only as Joachim lived three years with Mary 
And Joseph thirty — a flower sprang from his root, 
An aged man bent over it, his dear blossom ! 
For three years ; then it was given to the Lord; 
The old Patriarch came to see it for ten years, 
And then he died : was transplanted to wait 
For it; and the precious flower was removed 
To the hidden garden of one who preserved 
All its leaves white and cherished it for God 
Thirty years. One lived with Mary and one 
Lived with Jesus and Mary — I know not. 
Both belonged to the family of God. 
One begat Mary — one represented God 
And was her husband, these two fathers 
Of the family of the Lord. Joseph 
Was one, and he was not as other men 
That are honored, but as surpassing king, 
Or patriarch, apostle, or prophet — 
He was the one chosen to be the spouse 
Of God's own dear mother. 

But we may suppose, 
As each man in Israel taught some trade 
To his son, that Jacob taught to Joseph, 
His own craft-work, that of a carpenter; 



4 



■* 



30 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And when Joseph had come to the estate 
Of a man, making no household of his own. 
He continued to serve with his father, 
And to toil for him. 

Behold and imagine 
Joseph going with Jacob to fell trees 
Upon the mountains beyond. Joseph carried 
His own axe and the axe of his father, 
And Joseph would not suffer his father 
To bear any burden that he might bear. 
They had profitable conversation 
By the way ; then would walk meditating. 
Come to the mountain, Jacob selected trees 
To fell, large turpentine trees that they made 
Floorings of and yokes and ploughs ; then Joseph 
Would make his father rest while he felled the trees. 
And Jacob took great pride in his son, 
And Joseph was a stay and a comfort 
Unto him. And but one thing troubled Jacob ; 
But this troubled him sore, as may be seen 
In our next chapter. Good, old patriarch ! 

" Our advocate, St. Joseph, hear us !" 
Our helper, St. Joseph, help us ! 



* 

THE TRIAL OF JACOB. 31 

THE TRIAL OF JACOB. 

(Eve of Cleophas' marriage.) 

Jacob. 
Our youngest son taken a spouse and not 
The elder ! 

Susannah. 
Dear Joseph ! 

Jacob. 

He should have sons 
Growing now and daughters ready for marriage. 

Susannah. 
Joseph is upright, his heart the Lord keeps. 

Jacob. 
Is he as Abraham, or more? Our fathers 
Had spouses and so is their seed, goodly 
In number, spread over the land abroad. 
Susannah. 

( With a sigh.') 
It is true; but his heart, the Lord keeps. 

Jacob. 
Kept he not the heart of Isaac and Jacob? 
And Jacob had two spouses and twelve sons. 
I've no patience with this new kind of goodness: 
It is not patriarchal. I thought to see 
Joseph settfed ; I shall die and not see 
My first born's spousals. 

Susannah. 

I would that our son 
Would take to him a spouse, he would make 
Such a father in Israel. 

* 



* 

32 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Jacob. 
Cleophas 
And his other brethren have not despised 
The custom of their fathers, even the lust 
Of his brethren, and he shall be blest. 
His father before he die shall take delight 
In his seed. Are there no maidens in Judah 
That are fair? That my son should have no spouse? 
Alas ! that I must go hence and the son 
Of my first born not having sat on my knees, 
And that my right hand lie not on the head 
Of his seed and bless him when I die ! Alas, 
Our first born, his inheritance will fall 
To his brethren ; his portion will others take ; 
And he shall have no name or remembrance 
In Israel, for he refused to raise up seed 
Unto Jacob. 

Susannah. 
Dear Joseph! But let not Jacob, 
My lord, be sad, he hath many children. 

Jacob. 
But they are not my first born ! 

[Susannah 
Sighed here. How could she, dear mother, comfort 
Jacob whose heart was set upon Joseph ? 
But after a time Jacob came to take 
Solace in the children born to Cleophas, 
Who with Mary, his spouse, dwelt in his house ; 
Yet ceased not t' regret Joseph took no wife. 
It was a grief, also, to Susannah, 
But her heart clave each day more to Joseph, 
And so sought excuses, dear, true mother, 
When Jacob lamented ; and it displeased not 
Jacob, for his heart was tender toward his son, 
Only he could fault him. 



*' 



I* * K 

15, b. c. 33 

And Joseph remained 
With them, and by th' toil of his hands assisted 
His parents, and the beautiful years ripened, 
And Joseph grew in wisdom and sanctities. 
My God, how good can Saint Joseph still grow ! 
And Saint Joseph grew good and the more holy, 
Th' more humble, and, if possible, the more hidden.] 

"Saint Joseph was such a saint as the world had never seen 
before. . . . St. Joseph was deeply imbedded in the divine light. ' ' 
Bethlehem — Faber. 



15, B. C. 

ST. JOSEPH THE MORNING THAT THE BLESSED VIRGIN WAS BORN. 

" Beautiful as an unexpected sunrise, seen suddenly as we "turn 
out of the dark denies of a mountain pass, was the nativity of 
Mar}'." — The Precious Blood. 

" If thou art a young man, and art to have a wife, she is now 
living upon the earth, therefore, pray for her." — Proverbial 
Philosophy. 

THEBE is a saint on the hills of Galilee, 
His fervor, this morn, it is fervor to see : 
! ever the morning has dappled the east, 
He is up and away for this mystical feast. 

Up and away, though he knows not why 
The shadows of night so hasten to fly, 
Why the beams are out ere the morn hath rose 
And the east a-glow as an opal or rose. 

O ! never before so sweet has he felt 

The airs at prayer around him to melt ; 

He watches the burst in the Orient sky — 

His heart is a-flame, though he knows not why. 



■* 



* . 

34 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Dear spirit so tender, so ardent, so true, 

Ever so ready for God, yet never it knew 

The sweetness and light that drops from this sky, 

That comes to him most, though he knows not why. 

O ! dear, meantime, to our heart and clear to our eyes 
To gaze on the sign of those hues from the skies; 
Upward and back with what joy to look and to see 
Our saint as he walks on the hillside of old Galilee. 

To see Joseph a-watch and then hasten to greet 
That child of the Hill of Frankincense sweet — 
The smile of the babe that knows not sin, 
The Star of the Morning, this morn ushered in. 

One kiss for her feet, and back to Joseph this morn, 
Who bows to the sod the moment she is born : 
"Whose spirit has caught some flash of the truth 
And bows in the flush of a mid-day youth. 

Beautiful morning ! a daughter has birth 
That lights the smile of the whole-touched earth ; 
Beautiful morning ! the Moon's in the sky, 
The Moon of the world and the Sun is nigh ! 

Aurora for her mother's feast, 

An hour before th' usual dawn, at least, 

Strewed all her roses in the east, 

All splendors of her morns untold — 
No pearl unsought, no cloud of gold, 
Her radiant fingers left unrolled. 



*■ 



15, b. c. 35 

Awake to richer bloom, earth ! 
Bud whiter flowers, laggard turf! 
The Rose Immaculate has birth ! 

Join, favored soul, with bird and bee ! 
Shall field and sky chime sympathy, 
And Joseph pray, nor song from thee? 

The earth is now by its new Rainbow spanned, 
Whose beauteous ends dip to the utmost land. 

The Dove that seeks the olive-branch is out : 
Look up, at length, drowned world and shout! 

The little Ark of Covenant glides o'er the wave, 
My God! let waters kind her sweet prow lave. 

Joseph standing yet still upon his knees, 

The still, illuminative sky flashing 

All over his rapt, beautiful countenance — 

Sweet saint-man, almost divining, yet not. 

"What one angel, face most human-like, 

Overbends Joseph in the air, gazing 

Upon the face of our dear Saint, so touched 

With hope — that hope that was born with Mary ? 

It is his angel made with him visible ; 

Saint Joseph and his angel, outbeaming 

On that grand hillside together this morning. 

What must it be to be the dear angel 

Of a soul that shall be saved? What, then, 

To have been the angel-guardian of Joseph ? 

Wonderful Raphael ! Did not his brothers, 

The angels, envy the mission of Raphael? 



THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

" He is glorious mid the angels 

Midst the highest there in Heaven, 
Standing almost in the furnace 
One of God's selected seven. 

" He is special in his beauty, 
Like unto him there is none, 
Tender, patient and pathetic, 
Dear Saint Raphael stands alone. 

" He hath drank of that one fountain 
In the Godhead's placid breast, 
Till his beautiful broad spirit 
Is with love of man possest. 

" 0, to look upon his beauty, 

Even in Heaven so passing fair ! 
God Himself, O bright archangel, 
Deems thee bright beyond compare. 

" Thou hast loved us like the Father, 
With an unbought love, and free; 
Like the Father's pensive sweetness, 
Is the love of man to thee. 

" Thou hast loved us with that longing 
Which so wrought upon the Word, 
That He took our flesh upon Him, 
And our race to thine preferred. 

" Yet the Person of the Spirit 
Is reflected most in thee, 
With thy fires and consolations, 
And man-loving jubilee. 

" For thy proper gift is gladness, 
And thy nature is so sweet, 
Thou art made to be the shadow 
Of the unmade Paraclete. 

" It is God's exceeding pathos 

Which has tuned thy spirit thus, 
It is God's exceeding sweetness 
Which inclines thee so to us. 

" Like the human heart of Jesus, 
Thou art loving man alway ; 
Like the character of Mary 
Is thy fashion and thy way. 



*" 



* 

15, b. c. 37 

" Thou wouldst long to be incarnate, 
So to share the Saviour's part ; 
For the angel's spirit in thee, 
Beateth strangely like a heart. 

" O, thou human-hearted seraph ! 
How I long to see thy face, 
When in silent showers of beauty 
God bedews thee with his grace. 

" But I see thee now in spirit, 

Mid the Godhead's silent springs, 
With a soft eternal sunset, 
Sleeping ever on thy wings." 

Lo, we see thee now in spirit, 

With our blessed Joseph knelt, 
On the hillside over Jacob's house ; 

And our heart does in us melt — 

Melt and burn ; — and which is fairest, 

Angel Raphael, Joseph's face? 
Man so like an angel, angel so 

Like man — each of sweetest grace? 

Raphael and Joseph ! 

Mary comes this morn ! 
Earth is growing lovely 

Very fast — hope new born. 

" Perhaps there is not among the divine mysteries one of such 
unblemished gladness, of such unmixed joy, as the nativity of 
our Blessed Mother. It was like Bethlehem without those grave 
foreshadowings of Calvary, which give to Bethlehem such pa- 
thetic solemnity. The birth of Mary was like the mystery of the 
unfallen world. It was the sort of mystery unfallen worlds 
would keep." — The Precious Blood — Fabeb. 



38 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 



FIRST FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME OF 
MARY. 

" Glad day whose fame from Mary's name 
Like light from Heaven serenely came." — Ave Maria. 

(A messenger having just brought the tidings of Mary's birth 
and an invitation to Susannah and her house to the feast of the 
naming at the house of Anna.) 

SUSANNAH, filled with exultance, entered 
Straightway the shop where Jacob and Joseph 
Wrought, making yokes, and communicated 
To them the good news that the man had brought, 
And Jacob rejoiced for th' same, but Joseph 
Cast down his eyes as his mother spake. Then 
Susannah said, " Wilt thou wait for a wife 
Till she is grown ? " And Jacob, when Joseph 
Answered not, but turned away and blushed, 
Answered with bitterness, *' He will wait." 

Susannah made up a present to send, 
But desired that Cleophas and Mary 
Should go up in her stead and her husband's, 
As they were too old for much journeying. 

The pious kinswomen of Anna rejoice 
Over the cradle of the infant Mary, 
Fairest spot on the new-brightened earth ! 
There is another spot the next dearest 
On th' hills of Galilee — on a little farm : 
A carpenter's shop — a bench by the wall, 
And by it a peaceful and gracious man, 



FIRST FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME OF MARY. 39 

Who may be passed a little th' flower of life — 
Stepping over a little to the autumn side : 
An old man with snowy beard sits at th' end 
Of the bench watching the movements of th' plane 
In th' hand of th' peaceful, gracious carpenter, 
Observant from habit of th' smooth turning — 
Sees every curve and finish of the plane ; 
Unusually meditative, cheerful old sire : 
Jacob and Joseph. 

Susannah sits by th' wheel 
In her house, the peach-bloom on her cheek : 
Her once rosy, young face always kept fair 
For its sweetness. Susannah always had been 
One of those mothers and wives half a lily 
And half a rose. Th' name of Susannah is 
By interpretation a lily. Susannah was 
By her chastity as th' lily, by her blush 
And her modesty as the rose. To-day 
Her heart prays for Anna and the dear babe — 
Joseph's mother thanking God for the birth 
Of Mary. Sweet Susannah ! 

Meantime, clothed 
In musings, happy old Jacob breaking out 
This day rather frequent into some exclaim 
Of praise ; for Joachim was as a brother — 
Some do say that he was his brother — 
It were sweet to think it were so. 

Meantime 
Joseph, rapt in his own meditation, 
Quietly planing away at some tiles. 
Beautiful babe upon th' Hill of Nazareth 
Being named this morning or afternoon ; 



■* 



* 

40 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Grave Joseph, the carpenter in the shop 
Of Jacob, shoving seriously the plane, 
A new grace to-day brooding its white wings 
In his heart. How can he stay from Mary ? 
How can he stay from that heir of sweet hope 
The family of Judah gather round ? 
Who would not rather have supposed Joseph, 
This most spiritual man of his tribe, 
To have been the first to do her honor ? 
Joseph is too humble — God is preparing 
Joseph. He went not up, his beautiful hour 
Being not yet come, most sweet-retiring man. 

" St. Joseph, most profound in humility, pray for us. 

And Mary-Cleophas having returned, 
Talked much of the loveliness of the babe, 
And told its name, which, being mentioned, 
Dropped into Joseph's heart. His eyes, his brows, 
His whole countenance has a softer shade. 

" Sweet name of Mary, gift of God's grace, 
Light of the weary, smile of His face, 
Ray of His pity, chord of His lyre, 
Moon of God's city, warmth of love's fire : 
Sweet name of Mary, hope of our race, 
Flower of life's dreary, sad desert-place, 
When our hearts, sighing at the last hour, 
Tremble at dying, show us thy power." — Ave Maria. 
I 



~*&$$1^~- 



*" 



st. josepii at mary's presentation. 41 
ST. JOSEPH AT MARY'S PRESENTATION. 

THE FIRST TIME SAINT JOSEPH SAW THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, 
AND HIS PRESENCE AT HER PRESENTATION. 

" The patriarchal line 
Hath told of thee, since first creation's hour; 
The prophets chant in imagery divine 
Of thee, sweet Flower." 
'"Dove of God's ark, fair Sharon's mystic tree." 

JOSEPH, sire of the saints in Paradise, 
Remembers to-day, the first time he saw 
Mary. It was one of the serenest days 
In the late summer, and he had come 
To Nazareth for some carpenter-work. 
It is told in the " Rosa Immaculata," 
Wherein we see Joseph coming to the well 
Of the town, and Miriam, a young damsel, 
Letting down her pitcher to give him drink. 
They see a man and woman coming down the hill ; 
A child with them, seated upon an ass. 
The grave, communicative little maid 
Informs Joseph, Mary is going to be carried 
Up to the temple to be brought up there. 

" O, purest lily-bud that grew 
In Nazareth's blessed shade ! 

" We look into thy dove-like eyes, 
Thy gentle smiling face, 
And wait not Gabriel to tell 
That thou art full of grace." 

— Maris of San Francisco. 

The parties have met — and the dear party 

Of Joachim's having departed, Joseph 

Longed to go up to this presentation. 

• St. Joseph, filled with the blessing of heaven, pray 

FOR US." 
4* 

* . * 



* 

42 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The Little Blessed Virgin's Consecration. 

" In Juda's gorgeous temple where the sons of Levi stand 

Near the gold and crimson-curtained ark of Israel's sacred land, 
Kneels a child — a lovely child — the fairest earth had ever seen, 
Like a flash of living beauty, that Star of Palestine." 

" O, Joachim! O, Anna, mild ! 
O, parents of the undefiled ! 
Resign with joy that chosen child. 

" For safe behind the latticed screen, 
She shall grow up by men unseen, 
A lily, pure and most serene." 

" She vows her soul's first purity to God, with childhood's yoice, 
That purity immaculate, that bids the world rejoice." 

— Ave Maria. 

Sedate, retiring Joseph, while the vow 

Is being said, hid half by a pillar 

In the court. God knows thee and thou art marked, 

God loves Mary and God appreciates 

Thee, Joseph. " It is something to be appreciated 

Of God." And to be so unconscious 

And so destined ! Watch th' face of St Joseph 

As the ceremonial goes on — when ended 

And the holy doors shut in the pure child. 

" O latticed doors which ope and close 
Upon that tiny virgin rose, 
Ye could not hide her if ye chose ! 

" O temple-walls which stretch away, 
Majestic in the golden day, 
Ye cannot shut her in for aye ! " 

It was admirable, was it not, for Joseph 

To be at the presentation of Mary — 

The consecration of his predestined spouse — 

His now in th' eyes of Heaven — his fair child-spouse? 

But here Joseph shrinks again into the shades. 

*■ : 4 



-* 



ST. JOSEPH AT MARY'S PRESENTATION. 43 

We see no iuore of Saint Joseph for years. 
0, man most hidden with God ! not one word 
He spoke even recorded in the Gospels. 

" Silence has ever been as it were the luxury of great holiness, 
which implies that it contains something divine within itself. 

"Of all sanctities in the Church, St. Joseph is that which lies 
the deepest down, and it is the hardest to see distinctly." — Beth- 
lehem. 

We see only the holy little maid now 

Of the temple, over whose beautiful head 

He shall one day cast his mantle, grow up 

In the courts of prayer, and seem for the time 

To forget the patriarch of th' hidden life, 

To watch the precious Rose Immaculate 

Bud and bloom in the spring of her odors, 

In th' recesses of th' cloisters that are sacred, 

In the chambers of the virgins, spinning 

With the almabs on th' wheel Anna had spun 

Upon when a young girl in the chambers 

Of the almahs — Mary's mother. We watch 

The sweet opening of the Rose of Nazareth 

In Sion till we see her come to the flower 

Of her maidenhood, " th' rose-tree in Jericho," 

To her stature "as a young palm in Cades," 

To that period venerable Epiphamus, 

With a saint's pencil, paints her presence : " Tall," 

Somewhat above the height of woman, " face 

Of that fine oval and delicateness in mould 

Which characterizes the Jewish women ;" 

"Eyes," color " a soft hazel" and a heavenly look, 

"Lips," "a ripe coral berry;" and whom Dennis, 

The learned Areogapite, who had seen 

Her beauty— the face of the Mother of Christ — 

♦j, ** 



44 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

In his sweet writing, says in a rapture : 
"And she was of a beauty so dazzling, 
I would bave worshipped her as a goddess, 
Only that I knew there is but one God." 

This fragrant tree, planted for Paradise 
Upon th' earth, this virgin for God, we see 
Developing in her white-rose-like charms, 
Till she comes to a comeliness commanding 
The pencil of Luke and of Raphael, 
And left still untraced to be seen but in Heaven, 
And there only on the throne of the Mother 
Of God. We forget all but Mary, fair rose, 
Till surprised by the priests sending word in 
To this most chaste and consecrate Virgin, 
Tt was time she should prepare for a spouse, 
When we learn of her desires to remain 
In the house of the Lord, and her sorrow 
And beseechings, even to the revealing 
Of her vow to Zachary, and how he laid 
It before the priests, and they sat in council. 



SHALL MARY HAVE A SPOUSE? 

" As fair as the rose 'mid Jerusalem's daughters, 
As bright as the lily by Jordan's blue wave." — Clonfert. 

" Ordained to bring a Saviour into birth, 
O, blessed one ! On thee all hopes had centered." — E. II. B. 

THE council of the priests — the High Priest sat 
Upon an elevated dias ; Zachary 
And another chief priest, one on his right, 

«!•- 4 



-* 

SHALL MARY HAVE A SPOUSE? 45 

One on his left. Seven upon either hand — 

Fifteen of the priests in all — the count 

To be of the decades in her rosary. 

The High Priest, — the white linen garment, 

With the sacred girdle and the tunic 

Of violet over, and over the tunic 

The ephod, and fitted by the girdle 

To the rational, on which was doctrine 

And truth, with the mitre upon his head, 

And upon the mitre over the forehead 

The plate consecrated with sanctification.* 

The chief priests, vested likewise with tunics, " 

Were girded with girdles and had mitres on. 

High Priest. 
Shall Mary, the almah, as she hath made 
Request unto us, and hath the desire 
That is pious, remain at the altars, 
Or, as is the custom in Israel, 
Be given uuto a spouse? Ben Aaron ! 

Ben Aaron. 
The request of the daughter of the king 
Should be mentioned with honor. The desire 
Of the daughters of kings should be weighed. 
Were the virgin of a mean line her vow 
Might be granted ; but the eyes of th' people — 
As the eyes of a maid into the hands 
Of her mistress — look unto the daughters 
Of David to bear princes and rulers 
For Israel. 

♦Leviticus— Dress of the Jewish priesthood. 



fr — . ^ — »- 

46 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Ben Eleazer (aside') . 

(A very old priest outside the Council. The same who was 
the grandsire of Anna, companion of Mary in the temple. — 
Rosa Immaculata.) 

The Lord guideth Mary ! 

Ben Jonathan. 
The praise of Joachim is within the gates, 
And Anna, her mother, is commended. 
A stalk so goodly should not die in Israel. 

Ben Eleazer (aside). 
Whatever Mary doth, the Lord guideth! 

Ben Eliakim. 
The Virgin is diligent, and her hands 
Praise her. She embroidereth for the priests. 
Who doth cunning-work like Mary ? How can 
We spare her? But she will teach her maidens 
Her art. Her daughters shall be a pattern 
To th' daughters of the Lord, therefore should 
She be set over a house in Israel. 

Ben Eli. 
But, none maketh such incense as Mary, 
That she may make the sweet-smelling fragrance 
For the censers, should we not keep th' Virgin ? 
Who so setteth the chambers in order, 
And who so edifieth the almahs 
In neatness and in appropriateness ? 
Her distaff hangs perpendicular on th' wall ; 
Her wheel sitteth in its place — the spinning 
Being done, th' skeins knotted. Mary keepeth 
All things fitly. She doeth all things comely ; 

* 



* 

SHALL MARY HAVE A SPOUSE? 47 

The folds of her robe fall round her in grace ; 
She shall teach all our daughters comeliness ; 
She shall learn her neighbors by her example ; 
It is well for slovenliness in Israel, 
Is a sin. 

Ben Eleazer (aside). 
Let us never thwart Mary. 

Ben Samuel. 

Nothing in Mary's hand runneth to waste ; 
She will look well to the ways of her house. 
The prudent woman, " her household eateth 
The bread of carefulness :" want is not known 
In her borders. That Mary is prudent, 
Should she have an establishment in Israel. 

Ben Tobias. 

The Virgin openeth her hand to the poor : 
That the needy find help, the destitute 
Want not, that the poor be fed. Should Mary 
Be a mistress in the house of her husband? 

Ben Eleazer (cisidt'). 
Mary always doeth excellently. 

Ben Enoch. 

The Virgin may be called daughter of peace. 
Discord shall not approach unto her dwelling ; 
But the brawling woman shall of her learn 
And be ashamed. Peace shall live in her house, 
And quiet with her dwell, and her borders 
Shall be enlarged — her tent cover more ground. 



48 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Ben Solomon. 
The Virgin is wise ; " the heart of her husband 
Shall in her trust ;" " Her children shall rise up 
And do her honor." Her neighbors seeing 
Her wisdom shall depart from foolishness. 

Ben Daniel. 
The Virgin has been so well instructed 
In the scriptures, she shall instruct her sons 
And her daughters and they that with her dwell. 

Ben Nathan. 

Mary is so obedient, doeth all things 

So cheerful ; she would be such a model 

For all wives. 

Ben Ezekiel. 

Mary is so persevering, 

Doeth all things with such continuity. 

Ben Moses. 
Mary is so modest ; so shall her maidens 
Stand around her as lilies. 

Ben David. 

And, Mary 
So loveth Sion and the gates of the house 
Of her God, the altars and the Holy Place; 
She will teach those who draw unto her nigh, 
To remember th' feasts in the House of the Lord ; 
And devotion shall spread among th' people ; 
Therefore, should she be the wife of one great 
In Judah and honored in Jerusalem. 

Zacuary. 

Amen ! 



SHALL MARY HAVE A SPOUSE? 41) 

High Pkiest. 

Aud we do look for the Messiah- King 

In our day, and Mary is more excellent 

Than all the virgins, therefore must she he given 

[n marriage. 

[And so were her virtues brought 
Against her; even then as unto this day, 
No one could ever find aught but virtues 
T' bring against Mary, sweet maid, sweet mother. 
So was her vow annulled by the High Priest, 
Or so pronounced; and Zachary communicated 
It to her, and commanded also th' Virgin, 
" Be of cheer'" But Mary was depressed and wept 
Before th' Lord ; otherwise, she made no words ; 
But in the evening she went to the well 
Of the gardens to draw water for her cell, 
And while there she heard a voice that made known 
To her she ought to consent to marriage ;* 
And straightway she came up from the fountain 
In her peace. The virgins, her companions, 
And the mistresses saw her no more sad, 
And had great joy ; for the friends of Mary 
Are always in grief when she is made sad. 
The sorrow of Mary always touches 
All those who love Mary. In her household, 
All hearts beat after th' heart of the mother: 
And the virgins saw that she was the same 
As before her sorrow came, or the calm 
Where all had been full a little more full, 
The completeness a little more complete, 
Th' loveliness of peacefulness had deepened, 
Only as it could deepen in Mary; 
Or Mary had passed through another one 
Of her culminations, beautiful, saintly, 
Mystical maiden, developing as God 
Touches. Immaculate in conception, 
Ever growing immaculate — as the moon 
Grows, " Fair as the moon." — Pulchraut luna.~\ 

And this night did the priests assemble, 
It being ruled Mary should be espoused ; 
But unto whom, said they, shall the Virgin 
He given ? Who shall possess this jewel 

* Sister Emerick's visions. 



50 THE SALST OF NAZARETH. 

Of the line of kings, this most lovely rose 

Of the temple? And they made search that night 

In tli* records and genealogies, and in th' tribe 

Of Judah sought the name of such as had 

No wife, and in th' morning while yet early 

Sent messengers commanding them to come 

In the name of the Lord to the temple ; 

For unto none but to the noblest man 

In Israel and most worthy might the Virgin 

Be given. And all, each one, whatsoever 

He was doing as the messenger came, 

The same left and came straightway ; and all 

Being assembled within the temple 

Zachary stood up and spake for the priests : 

' Men and brethren, ye see how that Joachim, 
A just man in Israel, died, leaving 
But one issue, and the child being fair, 
So that none like her was found in Israel, 
Was confided to th' temple and to the care 
Of the priests ; and unto her is given 
One-third of the inheritance of Joachim, 
And it is great. But the virgin is herself 
Of great price, above all silver and gold ; 
And she hath been, too, holily brought up 
In th' cloisters, and in wisdom and prudence, 
And in modesty and sweetness surpasseth 
All the virgins of the temple; and, moreover, 
She is royal, ye well know, both on the side 
Of her father and on the side of her mother — 
A widow who liveth holily. Likewise, 
The portion of Anna will be given 



*■ 



*■ 



MARY IX THE ASSEMBLY OP HER KINSMEN. 51 

To her child: but she is herself the dower, 
She is her own exceeding great reward ; 
And we have called ye together this day 
That from among ye, her kinsmen and tribe, 
One may be chosen worthy to espouse 
So fair a lily of the house and lineage 
Of David. Let all such as would possess 
This gem of purity and of holiness 
And of beauty, above all other virgins 
13c present before the Lord at sunrise.' 



MARY IN THE ASSEMBLY OF HER KINS- 
MEN. 

AND the kinsmen of Mary, who had come 
To the temple, were present at sunrise 
With sacrifice. And after the morning prayers, 
Being then assembled, Mary was brought 
Into the midst ; but the Virgin was veiled 
And Anna th' matron, who was likewise veiled, 
Accompanied her, and the priests received 
Them with honor and gave to them a seat. 
Now the Virgin would have known confusion, 
Albeit, she was veiled, but she remembered 
The Voice and the words she heard by the well, 
And its peace assured her, and she thought but, 
" It is of the Lord /" Behold His handmaid : 
And a holiness diffused in the air 
As she entered, and all her kinsmen arose 
To do her reverence and remained standing 
Until she was seated, and then Zachary 
Unto whom Joachim had confided 

ifr 4* 



* 

52 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The chief care of Mary, and was her kinsman ; 
Said unto Mary, these are all thy brethren 
And good men of thy tribe, and unto one, 
Thou art to be espoused, according to the law 
Of Moses and Israel, fear not my daughter, 
Th' Lord shall guide this matter ; and, he proposed 
That she should make unto those that aspired 
To her hand any such question as seemed 
Unto her good ; and Mary through Zachary 
Asked such a question, and the question was 
" What is that which most adorncth a woman /" 

Now there was among those who sought the hand 
Of this beautiful, incomparable Virgin, 
One by the name of Agabus, and he was 
A young man of a good family and heir 
Of his house, and he was very rich and had 
Great possessions, and he was very tall, 
And handsome of countenance and his bearing 
Such as finds favor in the eyes of woman, 
And he was of good repute and desired 
Mary ; for he had watched from his house-top, 
And seen her as she came out in the twilight 
To draw water at the well, and he had heard 
Her voice in the choir when the almahs sang 
Behind their lattice in the temple, and came 
Every morning and evening to the prayers, 
That he might hear her sing ; and her virtues 
And her beauty, were they not spoken of 
Through all Jerusalem ? and he coveted 
Her, and who could compete with him ? He made 
A sacrifice that was magnificent, 



*" 



MARY IN THE ASSEMBLY OF HER KINSMEN. 

A.nd thought he should win, and so likewise 
Thought the priests. 

And the question, 
Mary had proposed, being ashed, one said 
An honorable and a royal birth ; 
Another by her garments of beauty — 
Necklaces, bracelets, rings, — so should one make 
A spouse fair ; and such a one considering 
The vanity of woman, so thought to please; 
Another said by her sweetness of manner ;■ 
And he regarded to please by something 
In herself — he understood flattery, 
But the more subtley ; and another said 
For delicateness ; one for beauty ; 
One her wisdom ; one prudence, industry, 
Cheerfulness ; all gave different answers ; 
Agabus thinking of her singing said, 
The melody of her lips, so shall her words 
Ravish the heart of her husband. One man 
Only had not answered, who was aged, 
Or in comparison with those who presented 
Themselves with him — and sat at the lower end 
Of the audience-room, and had no thought 
To find favor in th' eyes of any one, 
Much less of that fair young flower of his line, 
And who had not thought to have appeared 
And to have come in with his brethren there ; 
But being in the city following his trade — 
Doing some carpenter-work — th' messenger 
Sought him out and pressed him ; and the others 
Having spoken, he being questioned, answered 
With sweetness, ' ' Chastity," and Agabus 



*■ 



54 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Laughed in his pride, and a part of those laughed 
Who surrounded Agabus ; but the answer 
Pleased Mary. She spoke not as yet, but showed 
That she was pleased, for she drew a lily 
She carried in her hand under her veil 
And kissed it. 

And Agabus, disturbed, arose; 
But doubting not that he should persuade 
The maiden, told of his wealth and promised 
Unto her the key of all his treasures, 
And that he would add unto her dowry 
Silver and gold as dust, silks of Persia, 
Saphires and diamonds and cups of gold, 
And th' perfumes and tapestries of the East 
For her pavilion. In fine, what would he not 
Of his wealth and of his great inheritance* 
Bestow on his espoused; and more than all, 
That which is dear to woman, would he not 
Worship her ? and should not all of his house 
Bow down unto her beauty and dignity 
And sweetness, and do reverence and worship 
Her. and her lord more than all ? 

But Mary 

Was in no wise discomposed by the words 
Of Agabus, for the Lord held her heart. 

Not a wave of his passion swept over the lake of her breast, 
Her heart in the midst of its calm was moored and at rest. 

And when Agabus ended there was silence 
For a time, and all felt the silence ; but none 
Did break in upon it, till suddenly 



*- 



MARY IN THE ASSEMBLY OF HER KINSMEN. 55 

The High Priest remembered and to them spake . 
' Lo it Cometh unto me now, brethren — 
In the night-time, while yet upon my bed, 
I had a dream, and in the morning could 
No more remember the vision and th' same 
Troubled me ; but the Lord maketh me now 
To remember, and the vision was this: 
' I heard one call unto me in my t-leep, 
And the voice was the voice of the angel 
Of the Lord ; and the angel appeared and talked 
With me concerning the daughter of Joachim, 
And I saw before me in the vision then 
This assembly, and each man with a rod 
In his hand ; and the angel said to mc, let 
The rods these men hold be given into th' hands 
Of the priests, that the rods may be lain up 
Before me ; that so in my house it be shown 
Unto whom my handmaid shall be given. 
Prepare ye therefore rods for the morning 
As the sun goeth down.' And this word pleased. 
That th' Lord select, or all save Agabus, 
Who was troubled, yet had hope — for the hearts 
Of all were touched holily by the presence 
Of Mary, and each one felt unworthy ; 
But Agabus doubled his sacrifices 
That evening and that morning after, 
While the others sacrificed as before ; 
Joseph with the others, though his offering 
Was not noticeable, for he was poor. 
He had so made himself by his charities. 

St. Joseph, accomplished model oe an interior life, 
pray for us." 



— * 



56 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

THE LAYING UP OF THE RODS. 

AND the rods they brought, those calm Jewish men, 
And awaited in prayer till the sunrise then ; 
And all were green with some leaf, or some spray, 
Save one that was stripped, or withered away ; 
And each had chose from the cedar or palm, 
Or some wood with a scent of spice, or balm, 
But, Joseph who chose from the aspen his rod ; 
' For it trembles,' he said, ' 'neath the eyes of God ; ' 
And to satisfy with his act his vow, 
Had made to pass through the fire his bough. 

And th' rods lay that night in the tabernacle, 

And th' name of each man was upon his rod ; 

And Joseph prayed before the Lord, and thought not 

To pray for himself,, but prayed for Mary 

And for the just man, who should find favor 

In the eyes of the Lord, and who should win 

That incomparable pearl, all concurred 

Who knew her in naming a pure white dove ; 

And he knew not that it was morning, 

Till the golden trumpets blew for prayers 

And the sacrifice progressed and the prayers 
Were made, and Mary sang with the almahs 
In the choir, and Agabus wrapped his face 
In the folds of his mantle and stood 
To listen : one voice as a silver lute 
Sighing through all, swept the heart of Agabus. 
And th' sacrifices and prayers being ended, 
And all of those contesting for Mary, 
Awaiting the manifestation of th' rods ; 



"* 



THE LAYING UP OF THE RODS. 57 

Joseph iu meekness is bowed with them there ; 

No soul in that crowd so rapt in his prayer ; 

He, by obedience, who had only come in ; 

Who had not a thought that pearl of all women to win ; 

Who in no way had ever presumed in his heart — 

0, man above all touch of passion, or art ! 

Who had never presumed to cast with desire, 

His eyes upon woman, might not now aspire 

To win, or to ask for the white rose of Grod, 

That mystical flower from a mystical sod. 

And the chamber was opened and the priests first saw 
The rods as they placed them, and trembled with awe ; 
For the rod that was scorched at the altar was seen 
To have sprouted with beautiful branches of green, 
And out from its leafage three lilies so white, 
Their whiteness half-dazzled and ravished the sight, 
Had budded and blown and a fragrance soft stole, 
Of Paradise sweet, to every sweet sense of the soul ; 
And Mary and Joseph and all assembled there, saw 
And felt a touch of the Heaven — a wave of the awe, 
When the sign of the Lord is seen in the place, 
And swept to the floor, dear crowd on their face ; 
Then arose in their wonder and sweetness to see 
What more in this vision of marvels might be ; 
And a dove dropped out of the Heavenly light, 
That hung as a cloud overarching them bright, 
Dropped out of the light to the lily-flowered rod, 
That Joseph received from the priest of his God ; 
And all bowed to Joseph with the rod and the dove, 
As beholding the bridegroom elect from above ; 
Or all save one, too humanly, hopelessly crost, 
Who gave but one cry — it was wild — he saw all was lost, 



■* 



•+ — — — — — ' 

58 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And shot from that sanctum as some stricken star, 

And rushed through the city to the deserts afar. 

Poor Agabus ! it was but a moment and all was as still 

A s the hour after Lucifer dropped from the Heavenly Hill; 

All was as still with this audience now at their prayer, 

Down swept and saying for the seventh time there, 
" Let the Lord hasten to come!" While Joseph surrounded 

in light, 
Was standing, the rod in his hand, the dove on the rod 

snow-white, 
Encalmed in the cloud that round him was growing more 

bright, 
And whiter and whiter the wings of the dove on the blinded 

sight. 
All the priests on their knees ; and Mary, the glow from 

her face 
Burned through her veil, and she bowed at the feet ot 

Joseph in her grace, — 
With the grace of a saint at the feet of her bridegroom 

from God — 
The man who held in his hand the lily-flowered rod. 

"Through thy exalted honor and eternal blessedness, 
St. Joseph, pray for us." 



PRECIOUS. PREPARATION. 

(The almalis decorating apartments appropriated for the mariage 
feast.) 

ALL the many halls 
Dazed the eyes to gaze upon, 
Gorgeous with their own grave splendors, 
Opened to the moon and sun. 



♦£» 



q , 

PRECIOUS PREPARATION. 59 

Eastern tulips, white convolulus, 

Rose and lily-knots, 
Turning sacerdotal, old pavilions 

Into paradisial spots. 

The first pavilion bad garlands of flowers 

That were purple and scarlet, mingled with white ; 

For the Bridegroom shall come wearing purple ; 

And with the white, did the virgins honor 

The chastity of Joseph, and the red, 

Or scarlet, represented the line of David — 

It was named the pavilion of the Bridegroom. 

And the flowers hung in viuings from the ceilings, 

And the tapestries; and upon the right 

Was the Pavillion of Beauty for the Bride — 

The corridor opening into it adorned 

With such flowers as were blue, which the virgins 

I>id in honor of the dress of Mar y — 

They had been accustomed to see her wear — 

And bordered with violets for modesty. 

And they put an arch of scarlet blossoms 

Over the entrance, as she was roj'al. 

But all the flowers within only were white — 

Lilies in varieties and white pansies, 

Pinks of a precious perfume that were white, 

The white moss-rose and other white roses, 

And the white tulip that has a fragrance, 

And snow-buds ; camelias, japonicas, 

And much other white bloomage with sprays 

That were aromatic, and leafage curious 

For delicateness and richness of verdure; 

And in the midst was a seat for the Bride, 

^ £ 



60 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Adorned only with roses and lilies — 

The most fragrant and spotless for whiteness ; 

And the green banner of Judas Macubeus 

Was gathered up in a canopy with emeralds, 

" And the emeralds were very large and had 

A beautiful brilliancy." And the virgins 

Went out, and an angel came in and surveyed 

The room, and over the seat where Mary 

Would sit, being espoused, he traced 

A motto with a reed that was in his hand : 

"Daughter of David, Immaculate," 

Lettered by lilies half-blown and th' bells thereof, 

In form of a rainbow over the bride-throne. 

A pavilion was, moreover, adorned 

Upon cither hand of the pavilions 

Of th' Bride and Bridegroom for their attendants, 

With scarlet flowerings for the lineage 

Of David; and a throne was, also, entwined 

With white flowers opposite for the High Priest. 

And other pavilions were decorated 

For the friends of the parties and the guests 

Of distinction invited from the city, — 

Gorgeous and odorous with flowers mingled 

Both for color and fragrancies, according 

To its design, or who should sit therein ; 

The pavilions were in semi-circle, 

And had communications by tapestries, 

And the tapestries were gathered back, — 

So that all their gorgeousness might be seen; — 

And the tables were spread beneath a canopy, 

And the feast was to open in the evening, 

And would last seven days. 



PRECIOUS PREPARATION. 61 

Turn and look back ! 
Floors of juniper ; pillars of porphiry ; 
Pavilions cushioned with needle-work ; 
Wainscotting inlaid with ivory and gold ; 
Marbles and jewels and flowers and the breath 
Of sanctity through th' rooms, and th' aroma 
Of th' future over all ! Mine eyes hath seen 
The glory of the house, where the Daughter 
Of Sion dwelleth ! Mine eyes have beheld 
The banquet-room in the house of the Lord ! 
World-worshipped, gorgeous, old Jewish temple ! " 
Shrine of Israel's God and the august, old law," 
Made beautiful for the coming of the Bride 
Of the new Law ; and to be illuminated 
For the marriage of Messiah's mother 
At the vesper, could it be too beautiful ? 
Too sumptuous ? too resplendent ? Not so : See 
It stand waiting ! There now, let us leave 
This temple of beauty an hour, — the chambers 
Of magnificance for the 

Chambers of the Bridegroom. 

Down in the city — a low, flat-roofed house, — 
A narrow staircase, an awn, the matting 
Of palm and a carpenter's bench, a chest 
Of tools, a stool ; room for one man to work, 
Separated off by some matting of palm ; 
A chamber with a bed and a window, 
Looking into the south, toward the temple, 
And by the window a pillar of stone, 
The fashion of th' priedieu of th' patriarchs ; 



62 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Over ill' pillar upon the wall, a sbelf, 
With a roll of parchment, thereon, lettered 
Upon the back " the visions that Isaias, 
The son of Amos saw." Poor little quarters, 
Joseph had rented while doing some work 
At his trade in the city, where his craft, 
He could pursue, most time uninterrupted. 
Joseph knelt by the pillar at the casement ; 
Dear Joseph, the rod that budded and bloomed 
In his two large hands still raised in prayer ; 
As an angel he kneels all the morn in his calm, 
And the noon rolls by in her car, 

And the holy night 
Brings shadow and light, 
Strikes the torch of her vesper star, 
Sprinkling the orient with sheen and balm, 
And Joseph kneels there, 
Still enrapt in his prayer ; 
But could you have read his thoughts erewhile 
His lips are warmed in that glorified smile ; 
' What was he that he should take 
Such a flower ? He a poor, 
Labor-stained and toiling man ;' 
Virtue is its own sweet wooer. 
Saint thy rich humilities have rose, 
Man of modest heart, God hath chose. 

Then the attendants of the Bridegroom came, 
Annointed his head, put the wedding garments on, 
Made him ready, Joseph wondering th' meantime. 



*■ 



THE ESPOUSALS OF JOSEPH AND MARY. 

The Apartments of the Blessed Virgin. 

And what shall Mary's robe be ? 

It shall be as her hair — 
Her hair is as the amber — 

The robe that she shall wear 
A web ingrained in gold, 

Stiff for the very sheen, 
Where in the precious broideries, 

The raised flowers are seen. 

Her crown of mingled flowers, 

Her veil a silver lace — 
The glory of her sweet eyes hid beneath, 

And as a star her face. 

Sweet Mical tires the shining robe, 
The Virgin's bridemaid, envied grace, 

Her own sweet brows reflect the light 
So soft in Mary's face. 

Sweet Mical* tires the shining robe, 
And Anna, matron, bindsthe veil, 

And lays on that young brow the crown 
Of lilies from the vale. 



THE ESPOUSALS OF JOSEPH AND MARY. 

AND the hour appointed for the espousals 
Having come, and the guests being assembled, 
L.3t us contemplate Saint Joseph going 
In his sweet, resigned astonishments forth, 
To meet the Blessed Virgin, ' Of the Lord!' 
*Rosa Immaculata, page 180. 



'* 



♦£♦ * 

64 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

That it was of the Lord Saint Joseph saw, 
Or could never have though t' have consented 
' It was above wonder, but should th' creature 
Speak when the Creator hath spoken ?' His soul 
Had been likewise at the manifestation, 
Lifted to this peace ; as th' ancient Moses, 
Calm — as an angel that walks before God. 
Th' mild Saint Joseph cometh, a canopy 
Called the hupah, unrolled over his head ; 
His attendants move with hitn on singing. 

' Is he walking in vision ?' ' Dreams should come 
And visions should spread before, that He come ;' 

' If a vision, he may go prudently on ; 

If true, strange ! that the Lord should be so good ; 
The more should he walk in simplicity 
Before Him, lifting up his heart meekly 
And holily.' Our great father ! the Lord 
Bless thee and anoint thee for thy spousals ! 
The Lord bless thee and anoint thee every step 
Of thy distinguished way ! Selected of God 
And anointed, go forth happy Joseph, 
The purest bride since Eve stood on the sward 
With Adam before God for this sacrament, 
Cometh to meet thee, the one radiant rose 
Of virginhood ! the dear daughter of David ! 

" The abode of chaste modesty immaculate !" 
Never was bridegroom so honored before ; 
Go forth to meet this sure sign of blessing. 

" All marriages are solemn." This one alone 
Is all sweetness — the one dear " mystery 
In so great a mystery," without shadow ; 



* * 

THE ESPOUSALS OF JOSEPH AND MARY. 05 

Th' one marriage that shall be perpetuated, 
So to speak, in Heaven — heavenliest spousals ! 
Go forth, 0, glorified Joseph ! rejoicing. 

He goes, how sweetly, brightly, benignly calm, 

A halo round his brow, softly discernable ; 

The hupah is borne forward and they move on — 

They that attend him continuing to sing ; 

And when they appeared within the gates, 

And within the grounds of the temple, 

A trumpet sounded, and a great shout arose 

From the temple : " Behold the bridegroom cometh ! " 

And the Bride appeared coming forth to meet 

Him, with all the almahs, their lamps burning ; 

And these were surrounded by virgins with harps 

And timbrels ; and the virgins with the lamps 

Commenced to sing as the bridegroom approached ; 

And th' virgins that encircled them touched their harps 

And their timbrels — they that accompanied 

The Bridegroom responding in the distance. 

Bride Attendants. 
Who is he that comes, the glory of his banner on the breeze, 
Stately and imposing as the cedar among the trees? 

Bridegroom Attendants. 
Comes the Bridegroom regal brow, 
Bound with nuptial garland now ; 
Son of David and the king, 
With the bracelet and the ring. 

Bride Attendants. 
To the minstrelsy of song, 
Let the fair procession move along. 

6* 
* 



*■ 



QQ THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Bridegroom Attendants. 
Who is she that comes as a queen to meet us ? 
Who is she that comes as a rose-branch to greet us ? 
Lithe of form and graceful as the bounding roe, 
Who is she ? maids of beauty, tell us that we know. 

Bride Attendants. 
Tis the lily of the virgins coming forth to meet her spouse ; 
'Tis the Pearl of woman's praise, 'tis the Rose of Anna's 
house : 

Eyes as doves upon the waters, 

Rose and Queen among the daughters ; 

Odor of her fair renown, 

As the perfume of her gown ; 

While the cymbal gaily rings, 

Comes the daughter, fair of kings. 

[Then the procession paused — a third choir heard 
Discoursing sweet from the temple with cymbals:] 

" The wife should be to her husband as the bunch of myrrh she 
wears in her bosom. She should pass through life resting on 
him, heedless of all other men as though she were in a desejt, be- 
cause jealousy is as inflexible as death, and its lamps are lamps 
of fire and flame, and conjugal love is a thing so precious, that the 
richest of men were he to buy it at the expense of all that he pos- 
sessed, might still reckon he had it for nothing."* 

Then the attendants of the Bride presented 
The Bride unto the Bridegroom, and Joseph 
Saluted Mary placidly and gravely, 
And covering her head with his mantle, 
Placed her on the right hand, as is said 
In divine canticle, " and the Queen stood 
Upon thy right hand clothed in variety." 

*Orsini's marriage of the Blessed Virgin. 



*; 



— _* 

THE ESPOUSALS OF JOSEPH AND MARY. 67 

Aud th' attendants that surrounded th' Bridegroom, 
And the virgins around the Bride again sang : 
Wake the harp, breathe the flute, playing sweet, playing grave, 
Lot the torches of the bridal-bearers burn and wave ! 

( The choir from the temple responding') 
Bear the myrtle and the palm-branch in ; 
Let the nuptials of the chosen spouse begin. 
And Saint Joseph aud the sweet Virgin Mary, 
Surrounded by their attendants, ascended 
Th' steps of the temple and entered within th' doors, 
And having come into the pavilions 
Of the ceremonial, and before the throne 
Of the High Priest, Priest Zachary taking 
The hand of Mary, placed it in that of Joseph, 
And Joseph put a ring on her finger 
And said, " Thou art my spouse," — and the ring, 
The dove that had alighted on the rod, 
Had brought it in its beak, — and Joseph held 
Within his hand the rod that had blossomed, 
And Ben Levi, the scribe, wrote down the marriage, 
And Zachary the nearest kinsman, poured the wine 
Into the cup that the Bride and Bridegroom 
Carried to their lips ; their attendants sang 
A nuptial benediction, and the High Priest blessed 
The veil and prayed for the birth of th' Messiah 

And thus was Mary, star and rose of Israel, wed ; 

And faith and hope fresh graces through the city spread ; 

Jerusalem, exult and sing, now hastes the long expected hour 

Of thy Messiah in, thy rod of Jesse's peerless and awaited 

flower. 

" Holy Mary, spouse of Joseph, pray for us !" 

" Holy Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us.'' 

,| > 



* 

68 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

NUPTIAL LILIES. 

CONFIDENCE IN SOULS THAT LOVE GOD. 

" O, Lily of virginity ! 
Like unto Mary fair." 

(Third night of the feast.] 

" mERRACES in the moonlight draw the guests "— 
JL Gardens full of sweets and nightingales, — 
Or they have drawn in tacit kindness off. 
To so " leave the new spouses to become 
Acquaint " a little — or sweeter, wotting not, 
There has been the loveliest supernatural, 
And is, these Heaven-arranged ceremonials, 
Running through, and over all a brightness — 
One panorama of acts "paradisial : 
And many angels descend and mingle 
With the guests at this festival. Why should 
They not ? They have a special interest 
In this wedding. What mystics have not seen 
What principalities of Paradise, here? 
What seraphim ; powers ? What representatives 
From Heaven ? What cherubs in clouds come 
To witness and honor these espousals ? 
No doubt Gabriel was at this marriage, 
Angel of Mary, and Raphael, angel 
Of Saint Joseph ; and was not the angel 
Of the Messiah present at the nuptials 
Of Messiah's mother? Does not Heaven send 
Three-fourths of its angel hierarchy ? 
First Potentates of the Almighty — 
Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael? 

*- ! 



, fr 

NUPTIAL LILIES. 69 

Standard-Bearers of the Eternal Father, 
Sent to the marriage of His Son's mother ! 

The glows that diffuse and shed from th' garments 
Of Mary, and from th' garments of Joseph, 
Absorb the glow from the spice-lamps, held out 
In th' hands of two carved cherubims, at th' head 
Of the seat, where Joseph and Mary sit ; 
Whose wings meet over the head of the spouses. 
The very air is heavenly in the chamber, 
Where Joseph and Mary have been married, 
Where these spouses new married are seated, 
Side by side, in the pavilion of the Bride. Left 
By themselves, Joseph converses with Mary, 
And he admires the wisdom of her words, 
While she made sure by an interior peace, 
And a light shed yet more into her soul, 
Is moved to communicate to Joseph 
Her desires; which she in this manner doth : 

' wisest spouse, — by Gol's kind grace, — the noblest and 

the best ! 
When pious Joachim came — in precious peace, his dear soul 

rest ! — 
And gave his child, sweet sire, in charity most undented, 
She upward looked, the heavens above her deeper smiled, 
And sweetness dropped as twilight dews that same pure hour, 
The same that girds her soul to-day with peaceful power ; 
My gracious spouse, " Thine Lord" she said, " Thine only, 

Lord, alway /" 
Nor more did loveliest Mary in her modest wisdom say : 

But Joseph understood, and round his lips 
Burned smile so happy, that the angels paused, 



♦?*■ 



70 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Who fanned meantime, sweet Mary's blessed brow, 

In admiration nearer unto Joseph leaned ; 

Her voice sweetly unguent penetrated his heart, 

A greatjoy flowed into his soul. He grew, 

In that one moment, to a new stature of grace, 

And taking the hands of Mary paternally, 

Between his two palms, and gazing holily 

On her face, he said, ' my spouse, my young spouse, 

' " Thou shall be unto me as my mother and my sister ! " ' 

' Be as my mother, precious spouse, to me, 

So will I guard thy cherished chastity ' m 

Be as my sister, sacred near, my fair young mystic bride, 

Walk in thy spotless virgin robes, forever by my side. ' 

The wing-veiled brows of angels reverent lower, 
A circle round swept to the very floor ; 
A smile drops from the skies to Mary's face, 
To Joseph's heart run streams of copious grace. 

He who weds the Rose of Jesse, 
Pure should be in flesh and spirit, 

He should be more saint than human, 

More an angel than a man. — Rosa Myslica. 

" Guardian of the virginity of Mary pray for us." 



LEAVING THE HOUSE OF HER GOD. 

IN the seventh and last eve of the feast, 
Mary made a farewell visit to the grave 
Of Anna, and the well of the Voice. 
What an imparadised week it had been ; 
And Mary sat with Mical in silence 
Under the tree, where she had come to draw 



♦j*i 



LEAVING THE HOUSE OF HER GOD. 71 

The water. Mical is thinking of th' departure 

Of Mary and she cannot speak ; Mary 

Of that Voice and the goodness of St. Joseph, 

And of his urbanity and holiness ; 

And as they arose up, not yet speaking, 

And came up from the gardens, Joseph met 

Them — came out to meet them — and conducted 

Them back to the temple. That night, Mary 

Slept for the last time in her little cell. 

It affects us to see her bidding adieus. 

How pleasant is everything her presence 

Has endeared. Soon after it was midnight, 

She arose from her couch by the wall, 

And smoothed the rug of crimson carefully : 

She would sleep no more in this fair chamber, 

Where the hours had been holy as hidden, 

And no one hour regretted, blessed past ! 

Was she not sad, from such beauty and calm 
And sanctity, departing? Beautifully so : 
Her heart grew to the spot — to the whole spot, 
Altars and galleries, gardens and her cell, — 
But is consoled by that pledge of Joseph, 
She is overlooking Jerusalem now — 
Once more in the moonlight from her window, — 
That Hill of Olives and that grave garden; 
How still all things stand in the sweet starlight. 
She prays for the last time on the three stairs, 
Overlooking the door of the sanctuary. 

The morning, it has come in the temple, 
When she sings not with the virgins in choir ; 
Eleven years she had sang with the virgins ; 



■* 



72 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

She is a married woman now ; she sits not 
With the almahs. This is the last morning ; 
Mary wept as the almahs, her sisters, sang, 
Her tears only making her the more lovely ; 
And the presentation of the virgin, 
Who succeeded Mary, being ended, 
And Mary having led her, accompanied 
By the virgins, to the door of her cell 
And embraced her, and this lovely virgin, 
Named Veronica, having gone in to pray, 
Where Mary has so many sweet years prayed, 
Behold ! Mary returning from the last look 
Of her cell through the corridors, gravely, 
Met Zachary, and her kinsmen taking 
Her by th' hand wished her joy, and commended 
Joseph, and Mary knelt for his blessing, 
And he blessed her, and she being arisen 
He lead her unto the door of the Holies, 
But went not in. 

' Why should he fear to lead 
Her where an angel had led her? ' He feared 
Because he was not an angel ; and Mary, 
Herself, thought no more to go in, but knelt 
Before the veil or curtain of the chamber 
Of the tabernacle. She bowed to the floor 
And kissed the holy veil, but disturbed not 
The sacred concealment. Zachary was moved. 
What would the temple be without Mary; 
Or, if his piety would not so allow, 
Yet, how they would miss this one white dove 
And her prayers, exciting all to fervor. 
0, Zicbary, what a prize thou art losing ! 

* 



LEAVING THE HOUSE OF HER GOD. 73 

0, Joseph, what a prize thou hast obtained ! 
And Zachary was sad, but a sweet light played 
Over his countenance, which Joseph saw — 
The light in the face of the priest as he joined 
Them and went with Mary in to the place 
Of the altar of consecration, where Anna 
And Joachim had brought her when a child. 
Mary knelt upon the spot, blessed forever ! 
Where she knelt, and vowed her virginity 
That day. Joseph knelt by her now ; Mary 
Said now, too, " Evermore Lord.'"' Beautiful, 
Mystical, two-fold spouse ! There is the riug 
Of Joseph upon thy married hand ; 
The vow of obedience to Joseph 
She repeats likewise ; God shares with Joseph, 
Keeping but her one lily purity 
Jealously Himself. God's bride, Joseph's bride, 
Beautiful Immaculate Rose Virgin ! 
The Blessed Virgin bride, the double bride ! 
And Joseph made vows corresponding 
Unto Mary's. It was a sight for th' angels ! 
Ye twain at th' altars that morning. Mary 
Bows her head as an angel, or flower, to kiss 
The steps of the altar: then kissing the ring 
Of her marriage with Joseph, she arises 
And goes out with Joseph, all of the priests 
Blessing her; and the High Priest as they made 
Their adieus unto him, praised her to Joseph, 
And he blessed them with his hands on her head, 
And prayed again for the birth of the Messiah. 
And all of her companions wept as she kissed 
Them ; but most of all wept Mical, her friend. 

7 



■* 



74 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Weep now, Sion, thy daughter, thy ornament 
From thee taken ! Yet not as they that keep 
Not hope, in that Mary now is married, 
She shall to thee return bearing thy King. 
And the friends of the Bridegroom and the Bride 
Lead them forth from the city in procession — 
Cymbals sounding, and the air 
Redolent with odors everywhere ; 
Till the city gates are past 
Silver to the poor is cast — 
They returning blessings loud, 
While the women in a crowd, 
In their gladness, in their pride, 
Now and then stop the smiling Bride, 
Count her ornaments, rehearse her beauty. 
Praise her virtues, tell her duty. 
Mary thus from Sacred Sion goes ; 
Jerusalem surrenders thus her rose. 



BRIDAL JOURNEY OF JOSEPH AND MARY. 

T)EHOLD th' escort having blessed them turn back ; 
*-* But we leave not Mary so, 

We may still with Joseph go. 

And seeing them turn toward Jerusalem 
Mary wept. 0, Mary, wipe those pious tears ! 
Thou art going back to the old Hill home 
And Anna, precious mother! Eleazer came 
In time to witness the spousals. The old 
And faithful servant was glad, beholding 
The daughter of his master who was dead, 

I' ♦ 



* 

BRIDAL JOURNEY OF JOSEPH AND MARY. 75 

Given in marriage to so godly a man ; 
He has gone before to apprise Anua. 

Tt was Joseph's first journey with Mary, 

And more and more unto her, his heart clave, 

More and more he wondered at the favor 

Of the Lord, that had bestowed such a treasure. 

A mule had been provided for Joseph, 

But the escort departed, he descended ; 

He would not ride by th' side of his princess, 

But walked for a league by th' side of Mary, 

Guiding the mule whereon she rode, and Mary 

Would have alighted to walk by his side 

In meekness; but Joseph would not suffer ; 

And it was proper and most becoming, 

Joseph should in all things honor Mary, 

And condescend unto her as the bridegroom 

Unto the bride, or the reverence of Joseph 

Was the medium between the bridegroom-lord 

And father, that is kingly toward th' daughter 

Born to his honors ; and Mary thought not 

To gainsay Joseph, in anything, or to doubt 

His precious protection ; he was her spouse, 

The Lord had given ; it was his privilege ; 

And from this time or thence, she would have washed 

His feet, or have unloosed his shoe-latches ; 

But if he drew to her side, and preferred 

Her — •" In honor prefer one another," 

If he kissed the border of her garment, 

In salutation, it distracted not Mary ; 

He was her brother, her father, her spouse. 

Mary never questioned Joseph, blessed trust! 



*• 

70 THE SArNT OF NAZARETH. 

Beautifully given, beautifully received : 
He might prefer her more than other men 
Their spouses; it was in th' Lord. She began 
To see, though indistinctly, the shadow 
Of the Heavenly Spouse upon the earth ; 
And Saint Joseph could not excel Mary 
In love, Mary suffers no one to excel 
Her. But we neither hear or discover 
In this blissful path, blissfullest journey ! 
That strange dialogue about submission, 
Or obedience of which some have discoursed. 
As to which one should the other serve. 
Which should be the head in this family ? 
Would be too incongruous in this journey, 
Would be incongruous in a marriage 
Of such sweetness. Blessed be God ! marriage 
Betwixt Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin 
Was a bond, not a yoke ; as in piety, 
That devotion is sweetest that's devout 
Without knowing it, fervent unwotting ; 
So in that conjugal devotion, wearing 
The ring of the sacrament without feeling 
It bind. Joseph took his place naturally 
And supernaturally. Glorious saint-husband ! 
He never thought more than Mary to change 
The order of nature and of Heaven. 
He was too meek and too wise a man, to think 
To new arrange God's good old arrangement ; 
But he never thought to rule over Mary, 
For he doubted not Mary, or her wisdom, 
In any one thing, benign Saint Joseph ! 
How could he? and Mary never thought not 

• 
* 



■* 



BRIDAL JOURNEY OF JOSEPH AND MARY. i ( 

To be ruled. How could she and be Mary ? 

Both only thought to obey God, and do 

Good to each other and to the neighbor. 

In the morning he walked by Mary, 

And in the afternoon he rode beside, 

Mary soliciting, but rode not far, 

When they overtook a man that was lame, 

And had difficulty to walk, and Joseph 

His heart inflamed, descended from his bsast 

And placed the man that was decrepit thereon 

And walked by Mary for the rest of the way, 

Guirding her beast and dilected by the sweetness 

And fitness of all her words ; and then Joseph 

And Mary would be silent for a long way, — 

Joseph dwelling upon the words of Mary, 

Mary anticipating Nazareth. 

Pass on 
In sweet haste — by picturesque hamlets — towns; 
Handsome Sichem, gleaming through foliage; 
Through olive groves — laurel-woods, — palm- walks; 
By red-ribbed Garizam — lofty Hebal, — 
Thabor, mountain, prophetic, uplifting 
Its grave brows toward the serene golden sky 
Of Galilee — beyond Lebanon, veiling 
His snowy peaks in th' clouds, — amid scenery 
Majestic, varied — grandeur, loveliness — 
Glorious gorges deep in — narrow valleys 
Of very fair beauty. Mary has traveled 
This road one other day ; she remembers 
The holy sites that Joachim pointed out ; 
And she and Joseph take repose in the arbor 
Where they had reposed at the noontide then. 

* , <|» 



ft 

78 THE SAINT OF NAZAEETH. 

Move on, dearest Bridegroom and Bride; never was 
Such bridal journey before, so simple, 
Peaceful, heavenly. Troops of angels watch 
All the dear steps of both ; all the dear words 
Of both delight the fresh wondering angels. 
What will come of so sweet a mystery? 
Celestial observers, to think ye have watched 
Every petal of these flowers of Paradise, 
All the choice unfoldings — saw Joseph born, 
And heard his young vow ; announced Mary's birth ; 
Saw Mary presented ; saw Mary grow up 
In the temple ; lost not sight of Joseph ; 
Saw Joseph and Mary married, making 
With them their bridal tour, and do not know ! 
• St. Joseph, companion and solace of Mary, pray for us. 



ON THE HILL. 

WILL the harvest pass and no reaper ? 
No man to gather the crop 
Of the wheat, the apple, the pear, 
The lentil, the bean, the hop? 

The rind of the peach is goldened out, 
And the olive swells with fat, 

The fig is ripe on the harvest-hill, 
And the grape groans for the vat. 

'Tis the twentieth now and the sun 

Has crossed the winter line ; 
'Tis time the harvest man had come 

To press the winter-wine. 



*'* 



— — — — * 

ON THE HILL. 79 

Who shall garner the field of Joachim? 

Who shall fill the -widow's barn, 
While the widow spins by her lattice still 

The skein of the snowy yarn ? 

But, how Anna looked forth from her lattice 
And saw Mary coming, it is written 
In another book,* and we may not twice tell, 
While as yet so much remaineth sweet untold; 
But the while Mary and Anna visit, 
We may walk with Joseph, overlooking 
For the first time the pastures of Joachim. 
He had become acquainted with Mary's father 
At the feasts in Jerusalem, but never 
Had seen before the abode of his friend — 
And now he was buried. These were the vines 
That he had pruned, the trees he had planted ; 
And these were the pastures, and this the flock 
That had heard his call : and now he was not: 
And to them as though he had never been ; 
And what to him all this he had possessed ? 
All things spoke to Joseph of Joachim ; 
But as of a saint to a saint, and Joseph 
Ascended the hill to an old prayer-place : 
Behold Joseph surveying the vale from here ; 
Looking down upon that dear cot below : 
Anna and Joachim had come there to live 
When they were married ; Mary had been born 
There ; Joachim died there ; and all of the days 
Of Anna's true widowhood have been there. 
There are lines in Anna's face more than of age, — 

* Vide Rosa Immaculata, 219 . 



fr _ 

80 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Th' lines lie all in light to-day, kind Anna ! 
Her welcome had gone to the heart of Joseph. 
She might have felt disappointment to see 
Mary so young and so fair, brought to her back 
With so poor and with so aged a spouse ; 
She had not, dear, pious Anna. Behold 
Joseph praying now where Joachim had : 
By his old pillar, for his friend who was dead. 

" St. Joseph, just and perfect man, pray for us ! 



IN THE HOUSE OF JACOB. 

A MESSENGER, sent unto the parents 
Of Joseph, having shown his rod blossomed 
And that the fair Virgin of the temple, 
Even the daughter of Anna and Joachim, 
Had been given unto him in marriage, 
Susannah, her hands clasped on her bosom, 
Remained for a long time silent ; her joy 
Overpowered too much for words ; Joseph was 
Th' core of her heart; but Jacob arose up 
And blessed all his house and exclaimed joyfully, 
' Now will I live and not die ! ' 



*■ 



Virgin jRosfs. 



-j- 




[The First Period of the Blessed Virgin's Married Life and 
that of Saint Joseph dwelling with Mary in her Home at Naza- 
reth — two Virgin Hoses.] 




EPTEMBER is ripe in our clime, 
September is fair in our time : 
What must it have been in Mary's clime ? 
What must it have been in Mary's time ? 

Benign and fruitful month of all the year, 
Queen-crowned and goldened everywhere, 
Since in thee, not only harvest fields appear, 
But birth and marriage morn* most fair 
And Joseph coming unto Nazareth first 
To husbandman the fields as Joachim erst. 

There is a sweet, lingering summer on the dear olden summit, 
a pleasant hustle, or stir that is very busy in the quiet yard of 
Anna's house and around the little brown barn in the rear of the 
house. 

There is old Assinus, 

Harnessed to a wain, 
Or a little Syrian cart 
\ _ For gathering in the grain. 

* An almah of the temple was espoused when she attained her 
fourteenth year.— Jewish Tradition. 



*' 



■ ■ ^ ' ■ » yH»-"ff.^' , 5 1 '' ' 1 '- "■■ 1- 



82 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Happy, old Assinus ! 

Gay his donkey looks, 
Fresh from lily-croppings 

Beside the water brooks ! 

Bland, old Assinus ! 

He looks as sleek and white 
As fed on lilies 

Always, — so wise, so bright ! 

And staidly grave, 

Dear, grand, old mule, 
As any stoical 

Philosopher at school. 

But, loiterer, loving so much every stone even of Mary's home, 
every spire on the green sward here, every flower, every cricket 
chirping in the grass now the autumn hath come, every bird 
flying over Anna's house in the blue air — this will scarcely avail 
this supernaturally active day. Let us hasten into the holy fields ! 

What glorious husbandman 

That walks the barley-land, 
That bends above the bearded grain 

With sickle in the hand ? 

Saint Joseph, blessed Saint! Saint Joseph reaps 

In Mary's field to-day, 
And old Eleazer binds the sheaves 

And treads the reaper-way. 

What maid as morning on the hills 

Come smiling out to glean? 
What maid as bright as mountain rose 

Upon the reaper's fresh track seen ? 

♦ J » M I I! M .I.II . I HH I ■ 



VIRGIN ROSES. 83 

Robe of blue, gathered to the ankle back — 

A half-sheaf in her hand — 
As Ceres standing on the first steps of her throne 

Within the Roman land. 

What maid in the track of the reaper? 

The Blessed Virgin come out to glean ; 
Sweet Mary of Nazareth as Ruth 

In the field of Boaz seen. 



The sound of the fickle is still in the field, 
Saint Joseph is gathering the corn ; 

Eleazer, old servant, sturdily bringing in sheaves, 
And Mary has gleaned since morn. 

The little barn groans and laughs, 
With its corn-stuffed ribs; the plain, 

The breast of the hill fresh shorn, 
Looks up unburdened again. 

The little barn laughs and groans 

With its corn-stuffed ribs, 
Its bays of barley, scaffold of beans 

And the little lentil-cribs. 

Our little barn is full and more, 

And yet the lone wayfarer as before, 

When Joachim lived — his name with praise — 

Has come all harvest time as in his days, 

And still from out its ripe, unwaning store, 

Did never freer fruitage daily pour 

In dearest, golden, giving days of yore ; 

When father Joachim fed the hungry poor. 



* 



**. 



84 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The cellar of Anna is full ; 

The flow of grape in the vat 
Runneth over; with the olive and fig, 

The store of the widow is fat. 

And the winter hath stayed for this ; 

The winter did pause and wait, 
Or the rains they came at Nazareth, 

But this year, one month late. 

A month of Mary's honeymoon, 

A month and more has past ; 
! the honeymoon that may never wane 

Till the moons of earth are past. 

! the virginal honeymoon 

That shall stand in its full and glow 
Tn the beautiful skies of Paradise 

When all hath perished below. 

Mary was married and had come 

To the old Hill and Nazareth home 

All that Autumn after, or the wane 

Of Summer, milder was the reign 

Of the waning year upon that dearer Hill 

For the dear returned presence, dearer still. 

Beautiful Nazareth ! Where Mary and Joseph newly wed- 
ded had come home to dwell : to live virgin spouses on the old 
Hill together, and to comfort Anna all the days that she might 
live. 

Sweet Mary bakes the cakes for Anna, 
And takes the burden of the household, 

To bear in her pure lily hands, — 
Her mother now is getting old ; 

5, £ 



, * 

VIRGIN ROSES. 85 

She loves to yield her cares to Mary ; 

Dear, fair young house-wife she begins ; 
And now while Mary kneads the bread, 

The mother sits and spins, 

And journeys every day with one 

New lily to the tomb, 
And come unto the old wheel back, 

It has another bloom — 

That lily in the pot — Then Anna knits 

For Joseph — and spins — she knows 
Not wherefore — one other web so fine, 

Of whiteness as the snows : 

Dreaming of Heaven as she spins — 

That Heaven she soon may win, 
Of that dear Limbus-door ajar, 

She soon may enter in : 

And Anna spins a robe for Jesus, 

Although she knows it not ; 
The swathings for the Bethlehem Babe : 

It is her blessed lot ! 

Anna spinning in the moonlight, 

Mary bringing in the tray 
With fresh butter, cakes and figs, 

For the supper of the day ; 

Vesper-meal underneath the palms, — 

Just within the door — 
Mary serving Anna, serving Joseph, 

Angels could not covet more ! 

8 

4, 



T 



-* 



86 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Joseph sitting after supper 

In the shadow of the vine, — 
Eleazer grooming old Assinus — 

Twilight almost divine. 

0, Mary, thou art now alluring God ! 

0, Joseph, thou art drawing favors down 
Upon the favored Nazareth sod ! 

And Anna — ripening for thy crown. 

0, for the picture of those grand old patriarchal hills ! 
My hungry vision on their distant beauty but insatiate fills : 
Like panoramic shifts, or landscapes of some lovely dream, 
Alack ! as yet but glimpses round me flit and gleam. 

Give me to see the stateliness of palms, 
To scent the fragrance of the balms 
Round Anna's cot that blow, dear house ! 
Give me to see, sweet, mystic spouse, 
The cot where Mary-maid was born, 

Where Mary came when wed ; 
Blest little house beneath the palms, 

Four clay- walls painted red ; 
The simple porch, the awn, 

The eaves, the rustic door, 
The threshold-stone half-worn away, 

The patch of green before. 

In the sweet hush, 
The four red walls, pale red, or creamy pink — 
The palest rose around does deeper of the red- tide drink — 

Pure house, but white a-blush. 

* * 



■* 



VIRGIN ROSES. 87 

Its precious mystery, 
Perhaps the snowy loam, some angel whispered o'er 
While in its womb of forming rock, and so its core 

Blushed with its destiny. 

The sacred, sealed roof-tree 
Where Anna lives, her casement hid and still — 
The saintly widow of the mystic Hill — 

Anoint mine eyes to see ! 

Show Mary's mother full to me, 
Pale Anna spinning by her lattice, pensive, still, 
Serenely admirable widow of the Hill ! 

Benign saint-father, yet from thee, 

That our fair picture fairer grow, 
And that calm Virgin, as the May-month in the year, 
By Anna's side let Mary's modest face appear; 

And yet the sweetness show, 

Unveil thy gracious face to me ! 
Around that doorway, on the Nazareth sod, 
Show unto me the man that represcnteth God ; 

Th' Eternal Sire's shadow let me see! 

Father among saints, listen to hear ! 
The mists of ages 'twixt us sweep — Father, I weep, 
But ! the glimpse I've seen I can but keep ! 

Saint-sire, beneath the palms appear, 

And let the grand completed vision stand, 
As some pure stereoscopic view within my soul, and glow 
Till I, some other day, may look through time dissolved, to 
know 

The Hill that crowns the Nazareth-land. 



'* 



* . 

8<S THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

FIVE MOONS OF GOLD, OR LADY-DAY. 

" For on this blessed day 
She knelt at prayer, 
When lo ! before her shone 
An angel, fair." — Ave Maria. 

And the winter came, 

And the winter went ; 
Never earthly winter 

Was before so spent. 

WHAT a beautiful period of life, 
What a period of Saint Joseph's days, 
All the moons to that culminating March 
Where Gabriel sings the Virgin's praise ! 

That month of the Incarnate visit, 
That all-glorious twenty-fifth day, 

That great annunciate hour when God 
Came down with man to stay. 

Howled the winds abroad erewhile, 

Dashed the rain-drops in the mountains, 
Brimming all the summer fountains ; 

Within, 'twas only smile. 

A little spot, perhaps a triple rod, 
Enringed with calm and kept for God : 
Nor frost nor rime may scatter round, 
Without upon the mountain |bund. 
The flowers blow fresh round Anna's house, 
Where dwell the mystic Bride and Spouse, 
And all within the spot that Mary charms 
Is free from winter's rude alarms. 



* 

FIVE MOONS OF GOLD, OR LADY-DAY. 89 

And Joseph threshed the golden grain 

And beat the barley for the mill, 

And winter went on Nazareth Hill 
And summer came again — 

The time that we call spring — 

And Joseph spaded Mary's flowers 
And fresh the earth to till, 

And wrought, what other hours, 

A little house upon the mountain side 

To hew, to frame. One day, well, 
It was March, or twenty-fifth of Nadir month — 

The day no poet ere could tell 

Its blessedness ! — Saint Joseph went 

In Mary's fields to sow, 
And as he scattered wide the seed, 

He marked the ether glow, — 

All day he pondered piously the depth 

Or brilliance of the blue ; 
All day his eyes were drifting to the skies 

That wore so rich a hue ; 

All day those calm, prophetic skies through which 
The growing grandeurs waited for the light — 

The glory-deepening blues that waited for 
The glows of the Incarnate night. 

He scattered wide the golden seed upon the Hill, 

He turned with care the humid sod, 
Until the sun went in its sun-rest brighter down, he 
turned 

Toward the cot to await God. 



■* 



*$t . — ^ 

90 THE SAINT OF NAZAEETH. 

Behold him rising o'er the little Hill, 

That glorious man of faith, 
That man whose name is written just with God, 

And Mary's husband, as the Gospel saith. 

Up through the lane, he rises now the brow — 

The Hill is in the setting sun — 
What cot as Heaven to turn to when 

His day's dear work is done ! 

The Hill is in the setting sun — 

A gentle slope — a lawn of greeu — 
A little table-land round which 

The guardian hills are seen — 

A little cot that seeks the northern hill, 

Or northern hill hugs the dear cot, 
And palm and aloe, fig and fir, 

Outskirt the paradisial spot. 

Through ancient palms whose grand arms 

Mystic cross — the palms are two — 
Through jassamine and low sweet thyme, 

Peep four pink walls * to view. 

Those same fair, mystic walls 

We ne'er enough can praise, 
So God preserves them to us still, 

Down through all days — 



*"A stone peculiar to Nazareth and not found anywhere else in 
the whole world." 



FIVE MOONS OF GOLD, OR LADY-DAY. 91 

Or but the thatch and angle of 

The rear wall Joseph sees 
As he conies up sweet Mary's garden, 

Through the pomegranate trees. 

The lime is growing well, the apple in its bloom, 

The tender fig is putting out ; 
But he, dear thoughtful saint, is thinking more 

Of sacred mysteries about. 

What means such light? The day is done, 

The unwonted, burning sun is down : 
He never saw the eve before 

Wear such an amber crown. 

He reaches now the silver flow 

That runs from Mary's bower, 
A light is on the stream he never saw ; 

He feels the grandeur of the hour. 

Drawn near the cot where Mary kneels he stands, 

His vision held — yet not afar — 
Near Joseph seeing not yet clothed 

All over in the brightness as some star. 

" The angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee 
called Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was 
Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin 1 s name was Mary. 
And the angel being come in said unto her: Hail full of grace ; the 
Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, %oho having heard 
was troubled at his sayings and thought with herself what manner 
of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her fear not 
Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt 
conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son : and thou shalt call 
His name Jesus, He shalt be great and shall be called the Son of 
the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne 

_ M __ ra «™™™ 4* 



*- 



92 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for- 
ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said 
unto the angel how shall this be done, because I know not man? 
And the angel answering said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come 
upon thee, and therefore the Holy which shall be born of thee shall 
be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she 
also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month 
with her which is called barren, because no word is impossible 
with God. And Mary said behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it 
done tinto me according to thy word. And the angel departed 
from her."— Luke I. 24—39. 



And Joseph stood surrounded by the light 
As in a cloud ; and when he had retired 
To his chamber, he knelt by the window 
And continued in prayer until the morning ; 
And the window of the chamber of Joseph 
Overlooked the casament of the Blessed Virgin. 

0, never before was the midnight so bright ! 
What is it that touches transparent the night? 
What is it illumines so magnificent the air, 
While Joseph pours forth adoring his prayer ? 
Is it an ardent touch of the sweet moon-glows 
Caressing the satin cheek of the Sharon rose ? 
And the glows are as suns wanting the fire ; 
Yet with that trail of the night poets admire — 
That shadow that cradles the blush of the flower — 
Save the rose on the spray of the Virgin's bower — 
Or there is but one bush where the color is out 
On the rose, a spray, the casement of Mary about, 
Touched with the coming that brightens the air, 
Or the glow on the Hill that floods from her hair — 
For the word is said, " The Handmaid Behold !" 
And the Virgin is wrapped in a cloud as gold. 



■* 



— , * 

INCARNATION MORNINGS. 93 

0, never before was the midnight so bright! 
And Joseph looks out on the luminous night, 
And yet, as yet, his holy contemplative eye 
Permitted not to read the Annunciation sky, 
Or yet within that bright mysterious cell to look 
At that great hour when God flesh of the Virgin took. 

But the light of the night was in the face 

Of the most serene Joseph in the morning, 

And as an " illuminated- temple, light 

Pouring from every pane " was th' Blessed Virgin 

In those days. 



INCARNATION MORNINGS. 

" Te nascente ut aurora. 
Ut te coelo sme mora 
Miti soljustitice." — Neot. Poeta. 

" Blow over all the garden, blow ; blow 
O'er all the gardens of the West, 
Balm-breathing Orient, whisper low 
The secret of thy spicy nest." — Ave Maria. 

" Thou art, Mary ! the sanctuary of holy aromatics, 
Sanctuary embalmed with celestial perfume, 
Thou art brilliant with the most delicious flowers 
Of all virtues." — St. Bernard. 

Virgin consort of a Virgin Mother, pray for vs. 

THE eighth morning after, while yet early, 
Joseph was upon the mountain and hewed 
Timber. He liked much to work for Mary. 
Blessed are they who build houses for God, 
Or for Mary ! When he came to Nazareth, 
That afternoon, he walked over the farm. 
He selected a site where he would build 



* ™ — . 

94 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

His young wife a house, just within the edge 

Of the orchard of olives, not many paces 

From Anna's door, and the cedar and fir 

Were transported by Eleazer and Assinus 

As fast as hewn. But the work was not yet done, 

For he gave much time to prayer and had calls ; 

The hamlet had no other carpenter ; 

He wrought to be no burden to Anna, 

That he might not diminish her charities ; 

He wrought to provide, also, for Mary, 

Who had with his approbation given 

Her inheritance, when she was married, 

To the widows and orphans of Jerusalem ; 

For Joseph had received the richest bride 

That ever came to any man penniless ; 

And he wrought, moreover, that he might give 

Of the surplus of his own hands to the poor ; 

And the work progressed fast as there was need. 

He had come up this morning to select 

Choice woods for some panelings, when there came 

To him, in the mountains, a messenger 

From his father, saying an inheritance 

Had fallen and he must go to Bethlehem 

And secure the property for the family ; 

And the man having departed, Joseph 

Went down to his house and made th' message 

Known, and Mary desired to accompany 

Him so far as Hebron, where her cousin, 

Elizabeth, dwelt ; and Anna provided 

A basket of provision for the way. 

It was a dear gladness to Joseph to take 



1 



INCARNATION MORNINGS. 95 

Mary to visit her friends for tbe first time. 

I think Joseph was proud of th' Blessed Virgin ; 

Of so fair a spouse how could he but be ? 

Though all of his exultance was pious. 

They leave the door, Mary seated upon th' white ass, 

The eyes of Anna following them out of sight. 

From Nazareth to Hebron. 

Jesus is taking, through a little part 

Of his earth, his first human journey — out 

Before born, via a mission — "precipitate" — 

Ever blessedly ready Jesus Christ ! 

0, Mary, journeying for the first time 

With Jesus ! Didst thou ever, who readest, 

Receiving thy Divine Lord, arising up, 

Go out by thyself and take thy journey, 

Fleeing in the swift rail-carriage away 

With Jesus alone? How intimate was 

Jesus to thee, then ; insomuch, thou wouldst 

Never after journey without Jesus. 

I knew a person who for the first time 

Received Jesus, and that morning after 

Made such a journey — What a peaceful journey ! 

Joseph has journeyed with Mary before, 
But never with Jesus before. 0, man 
To journey first with Jesus upon the earth ! 
Wonderful journey ! every step. Few words 
Spoke Mary ; but those few burned long after 
In the heart of Joseph. He drew nearer 
At times and seemed almost to divine — 
And gazed on her face with an awe, guiding 

. , , * 



M- 



'* 



96 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The beast upon which she rode, reserved 

And beautiful young spouse ! It was a joy 

For Joseph ; and Mary often alighted 

To walk alongside her spouse, or to go 

Up a little way by herself the hills. 
" All her garments smell of cassia ! " 
" But the glory of the King's daughter is within." 

On some elevated knoll, commanding 

The surrounding country, on some shelf-land 

By the mountain-spring, Mary would await 

Joseph, laboring serenely up. Dear, placid 

And beaming face ! and the nearer Joseph 

Drew, the more his face beamed. Why should not 

His face glow and his contemplative eyes ? 

0, tantalizing, outstretching mystery ! 

Enamored of God, and yet he don't know ; 

Our soul is enamored, looking after, 

Up through that mountain path watching Mary, 

Riding now, or walking, moving on ahead, 

In every attitude, in every change, 

Transmuted; she who was all beautiful, 

Beautified : The beauty of the king's daughter, 

Illumined : Jesus transmuting his pure mother ; 

The Divine conception transfiguring 

The humilities. There she stands a lily, 

The sun on every leaf, a lily, every petal, 

A snow-crystal, and the sun under th' crystal : 

Mary knowing, but 0, so hiddenly ! 

Hiding it so choicely, 0, so fragrantly ! 

In the dear immaculate nest of grace 

And virtues, her immaculate heart : 

4, . * 



* 

INCARNATION MORNINGS. 9$ 

Only person yet, knowing it in the world ! 

0, fair tabernacle of Him ! 0, white — 

Tenderly illuminated White Tent 

Of Jesus ! All thy tent cloth is white, 

0, Daughter of Sion ! 0, immaculacy! 

Immaculacy ! 0, Ivory Tabernacle 

Of the Creator ! He, who created 

Thee, dwells within thee! Has God changed places 

With thee, Mary ? Is He who is Almighty 

Dependent upon a creature ? Thou art 

Very wonderful, Mary! Mary only lifts 

Her meek, glorified brow, and thinks God 

Is wonderful. Thou art very mystical, 

0, Mary ! and in thy exuberance 

Of charity, all things, with thee, rejoice. 

Robe of blue among the mountains, 

Mary up to Hebron goes, 
House of Zachary soon shall see 

Beauty of the Nazareth Rose. 

Elizabeth. 

" Dawn flashes o'er the hills, the purple robe 
Of night, with royal ermine fringed, trails past, 
Sweeping the cedars ueath her silent tread, 
And with her low-breathed whispers from their dreams 
Stirs up to life and song 1 the sleeping birds 
And incense-breathing flowers. 

The Syrian sky 
Full of a dreamy languor and a tint 
Of faintest rose, hangs like a crystal cup 
That empties golden wine, inverted 
O'er thehills, while with a tremulous sigh, 
Like one awakening with a sense of joy 
Too full for utterance, the low-voiced winds 
With spicy breathings dally with the palms 
And make rich music through the olive grove, 
Filling the air with fragrance and the grass 

9 

— ' ^ 



98 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

With aromatic snows, as midst tlie boughs 
Of orange trees it wrestled with the leaves ; 
And tossed the fountain's spray like gems 
Upon th' breast of morn. 

Upon a broad plateau 
Crowned with rich pomegranate blooms and 
Far up the hillside stood the high priest's house, 
Stately with marble pillars circled round ; 
With pediment and cornice richly carved, 
And sculptured archatrave of costly stone ; 
Of presence fair, befitting well a priest 
Of Israel's princely line. 

On the flat roof 
Crowned with dark shrubs and many a trailing vina, 
A woman stood, bending her dreamy eyes 
Toward the east. A face once beautiful, 
And noble still, the wind-blown veil revealed." 

— Mrs. Anna H. Dorsey. 

This was Elizabeth. She has a presentment 

And leans against the angle of a turret, 

Looking off to the cast, and a man stands 

Beside her looking in the same direction, 

Zachary is much with Elizabeth these days. 

Two travelers are coming up through the groves — 

One a woman. See the gleam of her blue garments 

Through the trees ! A man a little behind, 

Leading a white ass — The Virgin of Luke 

In haste, Mary with her Magnificat, 

Coming to sing it in Elizabeth's door. 

Mary and Elizabeth. 

"Asa sun-burst flushing mountain-snow, 
Fell the celestial touch of fire ere long 
On the pale stillness of thy thoughtful brow, 

And thy calm spirit brightened into song." — Ave Maria 

Elizabeth and Zachary go down to meet 
Mary. Elizabeth drawn on by a great 
And increasing impulse, before her spouse ; 

-* 



* 

INCARNATION MORNINGS. 99 

While Zacbary prevented by an intuition 

From the coming Lord, stands within the doors 

Of his porch to witness, being unseen, 

That wonderful meeting, and where the voice 

Of the Virgin fell as fire upon his ears, 

And swept through his priestly heart as a flame : 

And that same magnificent moment, came — 

As Elizabeth appears amid the pillars 

At her door, Mary going up to meet 

Fler, surrounded by th' halo of her youth, 

Of her beauty and of her joy to embrace 

Elizabeth — Joseph a little behind ; — 

Just come round a clump of Cyprus trees 

In a bend of the path below the house, 

Saw those two heavenly women meet — " th' going 

Up of Mary in her inspiration those steps," 

Or " broad marble flags," " the erect standing 

Of Mary in that grand old vestibule/' 

Having embraced her cousin, having stepped 

A pace, or step back, looking up with face 

As an angel into the heavens, pouring down 

Strange light as Elizabeth's benediction 

Breaks upon her ear, pouring down light 

Still more and more as Mary sings. Joseph 

Had not heard the salutation of Elizabeth, 

Being yet far down in the path ; but sees Mary 

With face as the sun looking steadfastly up 

Into the heavens, from whence flooding lights 

Are falling down all over her. He heard 

Her voice uplifted and fell to the earth ; 

The first strain of her celestial canticle 

Swept him to the ground, where he lay ravished 



* 

100 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

To an ecstacy, hearing the joy of the Mother 
Of God in her maternity poured out, 
That magnificently marvelous intonation, 
Caught up by invisibles, afar and more afar, 
Again and again, swelling and dying away 
In the farther-off and farther-off above: 

My soul is ravished in the Lord, 

In joy with God my Saviour! 
The Lord hath holped His servant and 

Hath shown His Maid His favor — 
Magnificat ! Magnificat ! 

And as Joseph lay prostrate in adoration 

He remembered it was as the rod and dove, 

And when he had arisen, Mary had gone 

Into Elizabeth's house, and Zachary stood 

In the path to meet him. Zachary was dumb : 

But he embraced him and kissed both cheeks 

Of Joseph, and his hands, and his robe. 

And lead him into his house with triumph ; 

Though Joseph made not for the requirements 

In his hands, to tarry, and the honors 

That Zachary pressed upon him, confused 

Him. He was a meek man, and thought himself 

Of such not worthy; but Zachary, his host, 

Otherwise thought, and made him a banquet 

And detained him a day and a night. 

But the morning having come, Joseph took 

His staff in his hand, and having commended 

Mary unto Elizabeth, departed; 

But not till Mary knelt — she would not first 

So suffer — and he gave her his blessing. 

I - 



THE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. 101 

Contemplate the unconscious foster-father 
Of the Messiah, blessing th' young mother 
Of his Creator ! Behold the tall figure 
Of Saint Joseph, the mystic look in his face, 
The beautiful Virgin in the first month 
Of her Divine pregnancy at his feet ! 
' The Lord hath looked upon the humility 
Of his handmaid ! " Joseph blessing Mary ! 
Mary kneeling before Joseph for a blessing ! 
Zachary and Elizabeth in the background ! 

And Joseph did violence to his heart 

To depart. Having journeyed with Mary 

And Jesus, how can he without them journey ? 



THE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. 

" He was thine 

Filling 1 with divine effulgence 
All thy being, heart and brain ! 

" All the fair earth bloomed around thee, 
With its shining seas and streams, 
With its music-shaken forests 
Drinking in the bright sunbeams. 

" What were these to thee, my Mother? 
For thy Jesus was thy own ; 
Thou wert his and He was reigning 

In thy heart as on His throne." — Ave Maria. 

ALL the days of the absence of Joseph 
From Mary were as the days of exile ; 
His father's business detained many days, 
Notwithstanding to the contrary, his will, 

9* 



* 



102 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Or his affection ; for the will of Saint Joseph 
Was as the Lord's, and he would not allow 
The matter of Jacob to suffer in his hands; 
Nor did he know that the inheritance 
Was for him, as Jacob, prudent father, 
Knowing the zeal of the benevolence 
Of his son, had not as yet made it known ; 
But the affairs of Jacob, accomplished, 
He returned with joy to Mary, to take 
Her with him back to Nazareth. Mary 
Met him with joy ; but a mystical sea 
Had deepened between them since they parted ; 
A great reserve had come over Mary 
In presence of all. Her soul covets wings ; 
The dove would fly to the clefts of th' rocks : 
"Show thy face, 0, my beloved, in the clefts 
Of the rocks! " She came shy now to welcome 
Her lord. She dropped at his feet and Joseph 
Kissed her brow and raised her up with kind words. 
With a sweet gravity she rose from her knees — 
As one comes up from the communion-rails. 
0, never came shy saint so up from the rails — 
Face so dripping with the Presence — shrinking 
From the crowd, desiring to be hidden away 
With that One transcending Possession ! 
0, never was one conscious as Mary ! 
She only the more and more desired now 
To dwell apart from every created eye ; 
To brood over that one in-dwelling joy, 
Incomprehensible — growing in her solitudes 
Joseph saw her reserve ; but it kindled 
His admiration of her and her holiness 



>*• 



. * 

TFIE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. 103 

More and more; there was a look in her face 
Very grave, but more sweetness in her manners ; 
An admirable brooding light in her eyes. 

They go home to Nazareth, and as the days 

Progress Mary never appeared so modest 

And so recollected withal as now. 

They had taken up the same life as before 

Mary went up to visit her cousin ; 

She so soon to be, even now the mother 

Of th' very Prince of th' Heavenly Courts. 

" Eternity and Heaven 

And the blissful angels die 
Into nothingness before thee, 
For their God, Himself is nigh." 

0, how nigh! Mother of God, unborn. 

But after a time the increasing shyness 

And silence of the dear Virgin troubled 

Joseph. She was not the same as before — 

Open, unreserved, unconscious. She was 

Conscious now, shunning in her new sweetness 

Even his eye and this pained Saint Joseph 

Strangely at times; though "he could not complain 

Of it to Mary, whose lovely hands slacked 

In no one thing that could make him happy ; 

And it came to pass to trouble him more, 

That his father sent for him again, 

To come and work with him in Galilee; 

And he was detained until the sixth month ; 

But that at which he wrought being done, 

He gathered his tools quickly to return. 



104 THE SALST OF NAZARETH. 

It was bis second absence from Mary 

And he felt it more than the first; 

For be bad been anxious; but the cloud lifted, 

Now that he was to go back to Mary. 

{Joseph on the toay.) 

The wanes come and go in the fields, the men 

From among the sheaves call out in salutation, 

Joseph responding abstractedly, " the Lord 

Be with thee ! " Pressing by as heeding not, 

0, undistract, grand, quiet, holy Saint! 

Swift for that drawing homeward of the heart, 

Bearing tranquilly concentrate on ; gay — ■ 

Cheerfully exuberant — trace his footsteps, 

A recollect air as an "atmosphere 

Around him, all of that rich gladness stirred 

In its deep pervadings in him. His eyes 

In their glad humilities drift to th' sward, 

Observant that the flowers brighten as he draws 

Nearer Nazareth — by such sight drawn on 

Toward his own fairer Flower on the Hill: 

His Rose and his Lily — " The Violet 

Of Humility, the Lily of Chastity, 

And the Rose of Charity.'''' — St. Bernard. 

Mary was all this to Joseph. The birds 

In the hedges twitter as he passes. 

He thanks God. All fragrancies, all harmonies 

Beach Joseph, and they reach him piously. 

Nazareth lies before him — a blessed cot 

A little way off in the purple haze 

Of the harvest sky. Halting not even 

At the well of the hamlet for a drink 



THE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. 105 

Of the waters accounted at this time 

Very sweet, Joseph presses on. 

Mary 

Is awaiting " upon the bench of stone, 
The palm-tree awning of the rustic porch 
Above her sacred head."* Perhaps she broods 
That "Ave /" she has heard ring in her heart 
All days since that one. Marvelousnesses 
Of God, most sweet! condescensions most vast 
And divinest to His humble handmaid ! 
" Queen among sisters! " "Mother among virgins!" 
" Effulgent with the splendors of holiness! " 
" Such brilliancy of heavenly gifts!" All-radiant! 
" Rich with fruits as the prolific olive ! " 
Holy Joseph in his dear dispositions 
Drawn preciously near — seeing a halo 
On the grass before her feet, upon the wall — 
About to, in his gladness, fall and kiss 
Her mantle and her hands. The halo fades ! 
His virgin spouse ! — his rose immaculate — 
With child ! He might have fallen, but something 
Did hold him up to suffer. Poor Joseph ! 
In his sad astonishment to stand and speak 
With Mary, or to th' pale, silent Virgin, 
In her humilities, leaving to God 

All her defense. 

Sore, sharp afflicted Saint, 

Unto the mountain and the wilderness 
He fled, and cast himself upon the ground, 
To let, at first, his heart there bleed alone ; 
And when at length he tried to think, but grew 
Perplexed: " Strange! " cavil may murmur here. 
*Rosa Mystica. 



— — : ■ * 

106 THE SAINT OP NAZARETH. 

Ye that make words, is it more strange than all 

In the mystical wood of mysteries? 

Where tall mysteries stand as thick as trees, 

Is not a mystery accordant? " Strange ! " 

That God would show in th' face of the whole world 

Who is the father here? Had not just Joseph 

Opportunely doubted, there had never been 

That revelation grand we see in Matthew ; 

And then to be full troubled and to doubt, 

It was but natural, and showed him still 

To be a man, and that with conscience for God, 

And who could be more brave than Abraham — 

It was more to sacrifice Mary than Isaac. 

He could not come unto himself at first, 
But lay upon the ground as the strong man 
Whose heart is by some hopeless arrow pierced, 
And when he would have prayed there was laughter 
And hisses in the wood — the demons mocked 
At him; and one scoffed so distinct, he heard, 
' This is the man that kept his spouse ! ' Then Joseph, 
In his great integrity, arose, the tempter 
To rebuke ; and as it was night, returned 
Unto his house and went unto his chamber up, 
And shutting to his door, he seven times prayed, 
And stretched himself, a martyr, on his bed ; 
And when, in the morning after, he came 
From his chamber, behold, in that one night 
His hair had turned to white. This it was made 
Saint Joseph ever after look to be aged — 
So much more aged than in years he was ; 
So fit a shadow of the Eternal Sire. 

«|e — 4* 



THE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. 107 

A glow came into Mary's spiritual cheeks, 

But she was silent, and Joseph spake not. 

Reserves are agonies between common souls 

Of any common spouses; what then 

Between these spouses? Oh, painfullest mystery! 

Neither spake ; and Joseph took no morsel, 

But went to the fields. Most was he tempted 

At night-time and in the fields when farthest 

From Mary. When necessitated to come 

Into her presence, he was the least tempted; 

But a terrible influence from without 

Seemed continually drawing him away 

From her. No doubt the demons were busy 

Around Joseph. Satan never drew near 

To Mary to tempt her ; but Joseph had 

To take his buffets, both for his own goodness 

And because he was Mary's guardian ; 

Satan hated Mary with especial hatred. 

He had a fore-intuition she would crush 

His old head. He had entered the lists, 

Not only against this Saint, but Mary ; 

He was determined not to be baffled. 

He spent all his malice and renewed 

It. And when we remember the ruin 

He has wrought with man, we can estimate 

What it was, and what Saint Joseph withstood ; 

But Satan never got hold of a man 

More able, and that most by his patience. 

Albeit, what perplexed Joseph most was, 

He saw not his invisible tormentors ; 

He saw not what he had to combat with, 

And they suggested reasonings so natural. 



■* 



108 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Joseph sat upon a fallen tree in th' wood ; 

' All children have fathers,' said the voice that kept 

A conversation up around him. Joseph 

Answered not, but sat with his eyes fijeed 

On th' ground. There is nothing in a good man 

So discomfits the devil as patience. 

Here he had been at work forty days. 

And what had he gained ? There he was waiting 

For God to illuminate this mystery ; 

And had not once sinned ; nor once judged Mary ; 

But had fasted sore and still held to his peace. 

It most discouraged Satan, he could not 

Move him — if he could only stir him up ! 

Patience discourages the devil. 

There is but one way now, he must put on 

The livery of the angel and stand 

Advocate for integrity, and show 

Joseph that it would be a hypocracy 

For him to continue to live with Mary. 

(Fortieth night.') 

"Saint Joseph, model of justice, pray for us!" 

Saint Joseph upon his bed reflected — 

Over again, the child would soon be born, 

His family would look for him to present 

Unto the Lord within his Holy house 

As of his marriage born — and it was not. 

But on the morrow he would flee and so 

Not harm Mary, or his own integrity ; 

So would he take the seeming blame and go, 

Leaving his tribe to cover up his name 

With shame for desertion of so sweet a spouse, 



* 

THE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. 109 

Rather than cast one shadow on her, or act 

An untruthful part. He sees no other way. 

His staff is ready and the small bundle 

Of his clothes; but most innocent souled man, 

Unlike others who choose night, he waits 

For light; and Satan thought he had conquered, 

Or was going to, poor devil ! When God 

Was only showing the invincibleness 

Of justice in the man that he had chosen 

To fill his place on the earth. 

'Draw off!' off! 

' But a little ! ' said the arch-fiend to his minions ; 

' Let him sleep, it will give him strength to flee ; 
Though as for that, I would take him up 
And bear him as on the wings of the wind 
From her, only he's a saint, we can tempt 
But cannot touch; hence, arrange just his dreams.' 

Poor boasting Lucifer, God has his dream 
On th' way for this man. God is his keeper. 

" Behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in his dream, 
saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee thy wife, 
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost ; and sin' 
shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesns,for he 
shall save his people from their si?is." — Mat. I, 20, 21. 

"Fear not to talic" A Christian should not doubt 
Where all is not told. It is pleasant, though, 
To know the old tradition of his absence ; 
It makes the simple word "take" so lucid 
And so natural. How many things do need 
The circumstance, and then they are so plain. 
He had stood from her in purpose, divorced ; 

10 

& 



110 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

He had not acknowledged her his spouse 

Since hi3 return; but now he understood. 

God willed he should appear in Nazareth, 

Before all Israel, in his Holy House, 

On earth and in Heaven, as Mary's husband ; 

And his joy was so great he arose and prayed; 

And after that he fell into a sleep 

And heard angels sing within his chamber; 

And as it was beginning to be dawn, 

He had another dream : 

" Fair angels past by in seemly bands 
All gilt, with gilded baskets in their hands : 
Some as they went the blue-eyed violets strow, 
Some spotless lilies in loose order throw, 
Some did the way with full-blown roses spread, 
Their smell divine and color strangely red : " 

•' Not such our dull gardens proudly wear, 

Whom weathers taint or wind's rude kisses tear, 
Such I believe was the first rose's hue, 
Which at God's word in beauteous Eden grew, 
Queen of the floweis which made that orchard gay, 
The morning blushes of the spring's new day.'' 

" With sober face a heavenly maid walks in, 
She looks all fair, no taint of native sin 
Through her whole body writ : immoderate grace 
Spoke things far more than human in her face ; 
It cast a dusky gloom o'er all the flowers, 
And with full beams their mingled light devours." 

" An angel straight broke from the shining cloud 

And prest his wings and with much reverence bowed," 

" And thus his sacred message sweetly said : 

Hail full of grace ! thee, the whole world shall call 
Above all blest ! thee who shall bless them all. 
The virgin-womb in wondrous sort shall shroud 
Jesus, the God ! (and then again he bowed.) 
Conception the Great Spirit shall breathe on thee, 
Hail thou, who must God's spouse, God's mother be ! 
With that his seeming form to heaven he reared, 
She low obeisance made and disappeared." — Chaucer. 



THE TRIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH. Ill 

His dreams refreshed Joseph : they told great things. 

And revealed them so calm and fragrantly ; 

He came from his chamber down in haste ; 

But in that night Mary's mother had died, 

And when Joseph entered the apartments 

Of Anna, he found Mary by her mother, 

And the heart of Joseph smote him sore, 

And he had great contrition for his doubts, 

And for that which he had purposed to do, 

And he fell at her feet and confessed. 

And Mary said, ' Thee I have never blamed,' 

' I have seen thy sorrow, and would I not 
Have spoken, but " the secret of the King" 
Must I not keep ? ' 'It was made to me known 
I should not speak.' ' Thou hast not sinned.' Joseph 
Insisted. Mary said, ' Thou insistest,' 

' I forgive thee, and for the Holy Oue 
That is within me.' And Joseph adored 
The Lord in the womb of His mother, 
And kissing the feet of his spouse and hem 
Of her robe, arose consoled. 'Defender 
Of my virginity!' murmured Mary, 
Melted to a sweet flood of tears. So was 
She the first to give Joseph that title. 

St. Joseph, comfort of the Mother of God, pray for us." 



^0^- 



■* 



* 

112 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 



FUNERAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S 
MOTHER. 

" As night blooming cerus, whose beauties expand 
When deep cloud is deepest." 

AND when it was known that Anna was dead, 
The women of the hamlet came and lamented 
With Mary. They saw her state, but spake not 
Of it to her, but had great compassion 
Toward her ; and the most tender was the wife 
Of Zebedee, Salome, who wrapped the dead 
In a sheet with spices — the sacred dead, 
Even Anna, the flesh that bore Mary — 
And to procure which she spent the silver 
That had fallen to her in a legacy : 
For this her flesh shall be apostles. 
Then they placed the body upon a bier 
And lit candles — the number for the dead — 
And Mary put on garments of sackcloth 
And sat down by the bier ; and Joseph put 
On sackcloth also and sat beside Mary ; 
And the friends of Anna, all they that came 
To weep for her, sat upon the ground, their heads 
Covered the number of days appointed 
Behold sitting upon the ground by the bier 
Of Anna, Mary in her tears ! Anna 
Had been a precious mother to Mary ; 
Her last surviving parent now is dead ! 
She is an orphan now ! Mary's mother 
Is dead ! Dead, too, in such a tender hour ! 
She would so soon need a mother. How could 



*- 



, * 

INCARNATION MONTH'S COMPLETING. 113 

She do without her in the time coming? 
At such an hour what is not a mother 
To a daughter? Such a mother as Anna! 
She sits, her white face muffled in the pall 
That hangs down over th' bier. Perhaps Jesus 
Wept in th' womb of his mother — a sweetness 
Diffused through her being. She leans her head 
In its tears upon her unborn Consoler. 
Mary could bear anything with Jesus 

Anna was buried by the side of her spouse, 

And Joseph caused the scribe to record 

His marriage with Mary in the book 

Of the synagogue at Nazareth, and led 

Her unto her house before the people ; 

Thus was their marriage confirmed in the town : 

And at the eve of the day he planted 

A vine by the tomb ; — Mary watching Joseph 

Transplanting the vine — ' Oh, that thou couldst 

But have lived to have seen Him, mother! ' 






INCARNATION MONTH'S COMPLETING* 

Scene — The Bank of the River of Cison. 

Joseph felling an alniug tree to make 
A cradle ; stops to hear the angels sing 
On the banks above him. 

(Mary within her house.) 

A MESSENGER come down from Hebron : 
Mary receiving a basket from Elizabeth, 
And setting before the servant of her cousin 
Bread and figs : he partaking, wondering th' bread 



■M 



g, 

114 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

That she gives him is so sweet. Who would not 
Have ate bread from the hands of the Virgin, 
Baked at her little hearth at Nazareth ? 
She inquires for Elizabeth and the child, 
And seeing the man makes haste to go, plucks 
The lily in the pot that had been Anna's, 
Kisses th' blossom and sends it to Elizabeth. 
The messenger journeyed with the flower; 
It faded not, and when he had given 
It into the hand of Elizabeth, it had 
Not withered. 

Elizabeth's servant being gone, 
See Mary open th' basket from her cousin. 

Mary. 
For Him ! for Him ! 

Contemplate her ! Mary 
Examines each tiny garment: the pleased 
And holy look in her face — taking out 
The cunning-work from th' hand of Elizabeth : 
In the midst of the basket a letter. 

The Letter of Elizabeth to her Cousin, the Blessed 
Virgin. 

' Elizabeth to Mary 

Sendeth greetings 
and pious salutation : Blessed art thou among women, and blessed 
is the fruit of thy womb ! Wherefore should I find favor that 
the Mother of my Lord should accept from me a present ! Peace : 
the L'.rd is with thee. Amen. 

Elizabeth, wife of Zachary.' 

Mary reading the letter of Elizabeth, 
Recalling the magnificat morning — 
The time when Elizabeth's babe leaped. 

* * 



— ■ ■ * 

INCARNATION MONTH'S COMPLETING. 115 

(Morning the day after.} Joseph had taken 
Possession of his new shop — the house framed 
For Mary — th' building which was interrupted 
By the business of Jacob — Joseph going 
To Bethlehem : and when Anna had died, 
The old house where the parents of Mary 
Had lived was large enough and had become 
Too precious to leave, or when Jesus Christ 
Had been conceived there and Joseph knew this, 
He would never choose live anywhere else. 
We see, moreover, here, how one may leave, 
P]ven a great Saint, a work not accomplished. 
How God changes our good designs for better ; 
And how, when God changes, the change appears 
Always more beautiful than the jdesign 
It was beautiful for Joseph to build 
A house for Mary, but more beautiful 
To build but a shop near Mary's door, 
And that Mary and he should continue 
To live in the old house of Anna. 

Joseph is consecrating his new shop 

By his first work in it. He is measuring 

With a rod in his hand and planing 

Some fine boards with much care. Speed on thy plane, 

Glorious carpenter ! Never was mechanic 

So honored before. Saint Joseph is making 

A cradle for Jesus ! Speed on thy plane ! 

Angels would like t' do what thou art doing. 

Polish down smooth the hard and fragrant wood ! 

Make the dark surface shine like a mirror ! 

The tree grew for this; and the ages will grow 



■* 



♦%» ' ■ 

116 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

x\nd crumble, and this thy work at its shrine. 
Generations on their knees, looking upon, 
Bow worshipfully down. Happiest wood! 
Where God, humbled to an infant, shall lie : 
For this the dews of heaven watered the tree 
And it grew. There is another tree growing 
For Him ; for Him before that He is born ! 
Hut it would break thy heart, Joseph, 
To know of it now ! 

Some days afterward : 
Mary, sitting by her lattice, employed 
Upon some lovely embroidery — Joseph 
Bringing in the new cradle, very shining, 
So well had he polished it. Behold, now, 
It is so sweet ! ■Joseph setting th' cradle 
At the feet of Mary — down at the feet 
Of Mary — and standing back a pace — 
Mary looking down into the cradle. 
There's no use to try to describe her face, 
Human and superhuman ! the face 
Of Mary in the days of her expectation ! 
The Church has a vision, and so has named 
A time for the " Expectation of Mary," 
And given it a feast before the Christmas. 
Mary looking into the cradle — Joseph 
Standing, observing, in recollect silence, 
A blanket that lies dropped upon the lap 
Of Mary, or a little embroidered quilt 
Mothers provided to wrap their first-born 
In when carried for their presentation ; 
And from which grew the custom in the Church 
Of embroidering robes for the christening. 

*— — 



; , $ 

INCARNATION MONTIES COMPLETING. 117 

If it is so delightful for mothers 
To work for their babes before born, to make 
Those little robes and wrappings up, what must 
It have been for Mary, mother " with joys 
Such as no other mother ever had?" 

(Eve of the Bethlehem journey.) 

" The time has come the world should see the face 
Of Jesus Christ." "Where shall He be born?" "Can 
He leave that spot to which He was first drawn 
From the Bosom of the Father down ? " Can 
He find a spot more lovely in the whole world 
In which to be born than Mary's old home ? 

" Doesn't Jesus Christ love Nazareth ? " " Isn't Jesus 
Patriotic?" "Jesus Christ, Mary's Son, loves 
Nazareth ; but Jesus Christ is a Priest 
And has a vocation making a demand, 
And He must go out from His mother's house 
And His own city ; must begin before born 
To sacrifice, for He must be " the Prince 
' Of detachment; " "or it were too much to give 
One place both the glory of the Incarnation 
And of His birth. He must, like a king, 
Distribute His gifts ;."* or Bethlehem was 
The old head city of His house. He must go 
Home to be born ; so was He patriotic. 
His Eternal Father can stir a purpose. 

u And it came to pass in those days there went from Ccesar Au- 
gustus a decree that the world should be enrolled, and the enrolling 
teas made, and every one went in his own city to be enrolled." — 
Luke. 

*The sweet argument of Faber. 



118 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Then was Joseph great distressed on account 
Of Mary. Should he leave her at such a time? 

' With none to care in this dear time 
For thee but old Eleazer, 
I cannot leave ; and yet must heed 
The call of an imperial Cassar. 

But there is what the prophet saith : 
Arise, my spouse, my dove, 

We make that journey now to Bethlehem, 
" My fair one, come away, my love ! " 

The answer in sweet Mary's face, 

Is sweeter than an angel's; 
Said Joseph, wrap the winter robe 

And bind the winter sandals. 

The wiad is rough aloug the road, 

The winter winds are out ; 
Fear not, my arm can guide the beast, 

Along this blessed route. 



FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM. 

THE beast jogs on — the storm howls 
In the distance, but erewhile 
There is a mystery in Mary's face 
More charming than a smile. 

The beast jogs on, the storm mutters loud, 
The globular drops begin to come, 

Large and ominous — slow between — 
And Joseph in his anxiousness dumb, 

* — _„ -4» 



FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM. 119 

Looks in the tendor Virgin's patient face 
And silent lifts his heart for more of Mary's grace; 
And she, sweet Virgin, in the blast begins to calm contrast 
This drear commencing journey with the lovely past, 
That other journey when the joyful spring all favors poured — 
The splendor of the day, the splendor of the night adored 
Her present God ; she came, the mountains leaped, her foot- 
steps neared, 
The wilderness rejoiced and flowers sprang wherever she 
appeared — 

Sweet maiden-mother of the Lord ! 
Sweet Virgin-bearer of the Word ! 

Now all is dearth, a boding sadness and a sad decay,* 
The cold and desolated, winter-shrouded day; 
The rough winds whistle loud their wild complaint, 
The sea-bird utters a more sharpened plaint, 
The torrents dash with dark redoubled waves, 
And from the fastness of the rock — the solitary caves — 
The wilderness resounds — the panther's startling cry — 
And beasts that fron their drowning coverts fly, 
And nathless miracles continued flashing here, 
Albeit not of kind the timid heart to cheer. 

Now, in their way, behold the huge rock-slide, 
Washed by the torrent from the mountain-side, 
Athwart the narrow path, so neither traveler, or ass, 
Much less, may burdened woman hope to safely pass — 
When Mary comes, divide to give the Virgin way, 
The torrent backward turn ; and all the gloomy day, 
Such marvels strike the observant Joseph's eyes, 
His heart, considering, stands in poised surprise, 
♦Paraphrase cf Orsiui. 



■* 



* — . — * 

120 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Till he beholds her cross her hands her pure breast o'er 

And raise her tender eyes towards Heaven to adore — 

Tears glisten in them now like morning's crystal drops ; 

Now the angelic trust in her sweet face the emotion stops ; 

She's just consented fresh to suffer all on earth 

With Him in her sweet womb she brings to sacred birth ; 

And now, though wind and beast are out and wild, 

Her pallid face is only radiant and mild : 

And Joseph caught the charm and heavenlike trust ; 

He walked by Mary's side and must. 

And fairer yet, it hath been told 
And handed down in legend gay as gold, 
That when it would have been, lo, for our Queen there was 

no night, 
A thousand angels round her threw such dazzling radiance 

bright : 
The blessed light was equal unto day the most serene 
For the encampment round from Paradise — by Joseph also 

seen, 
Who with our august Lady, grave responded to the angel 

lays, 
And charmed their Heavenly Guardians, by human hymns 

of praise, 
And they from their warm wings waft sleep to Mary, mother 

of their God, 
Who circled by the angels round sank sweet to slumber on 

the sod ; 
While blessed Joseph, faithful spouse, seeing the mistress 

of the universe 
So well cared for, reposed in peace, as the old chroniclers 

rehearse. 



■M 



-* 



FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM. 121 

But of all the choirs of angels seen at night attendant on 
their journeying Queen, 

Not one but screened their shining forms at morn, nor 
through the day an angel face was seen. 

From sun to set they traveled weariedly, dear travelers; 
thank God! at length, the last drear day 

Had come, and when another came, the last trace of the 
sullen storm had haply crept away : 

Yet on that old world's last departing day 't was sadly com- 
fortless and cold, 

And tender Mary suffered more than ever may be wrote or 
told. 

' Beloved, cheer thee up!' Saint Joseph kindly said, 
While, as he saw the patient Virgin's drooping head. 
In his afflicted eyes the large tears shone 
That almost checked his dear, courageous tone ; 
.But then the fragrant sigh of Mary untold sweetness shed, 
And Joseph, pressing on the beast, the bridle firmer led. 




4* 



*■ 




JBpfljiFljpin. 



Bethlehem's Reception of the Mother of God when -he came 
to her be trine; her Go I and her Kins; to be born in her City. 




ETHLEHEM signifies the " House of Bread." 
" Doubtless the Lord ordered the name." The 
Lord would give from thence the True Bread 
from Heaven. 

'Tis twenty-fourth December day, 

The evening hour is nearing four, 
All day the lengthened caravans 

Into the crowded city pour. 



A man there comes, 'a Galilean by his speech,' 

' His young wife wears a Nazareth dress,' — 
How young for him ! ' There's something in her face,' 

The housewife thinks, ' I wish that I could bless 
Her with a place and rest ; but we are full : ' 

' Her dear condition pleads ! ' 
But we have guests, 't would spoil the feast' — 

And pleasure intercedes 
And robs her of the merit. what a chance 

The Lord has offered to have given ! 
Poor Bethlehemitess ! you have failed 

And missed the King of Heaven ! 



*■ 



■* 



4* »f» 

124 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Said Mary, when rejected from the door, 
' For whom the Saviour comes,' For whom 

The Prince of Peace and Life, I bear 
Within my blessed womb! 

Said Mary, when rejected from the door, 
' If they but knew, they would adore ' — 
' They do not feel His presence yet/ 

' Their souls are torpid now,' 
' But they shall be aroused, 
Undoubtedly and glow ; 
God looketh downward from the skies, 
Undoubtedly these souls are precious in bis eyes, 
Since He for them is now about 

His dear Son to bestow : 
And doubtless they are full, 
And more, they do not know.' 

Joseph was grieved; for himself, he thought not, 

As for himself, he was but too happy " 

To share humiliations with Mary ; 

But was anxious on account of her state, 

And knew how worthy she was of hospitality. 

He had never seen inhospitality 

Shewn to her before. He had not supposed 

Any one could be inhospital to Mary ; 

That any one could refuse to receive 

Mary to their house, or their confidence. 

Poor Joseph ! he would have been astonished 

Had he lived in this age, we think, to see 

Mary shut out at so many doors, had 

He been told some of these were called Christians, — 

. ; — — 4 



.* 



BETHLEHEM. 125 

Christians ! and shut the door at the same time 
In the sweet face of the sinless mother 
Of the very Lord they profess to worship, 
Saying, ' she is but as any woman,' 
Saying virtually, ' it's well to proffer 
Loyalty to the Son and invite Him to come, 
But lie must not bring with Him His mother.' 

Ah, poor, simple Joseph ! he never lived 

Among heretics to th' Blessed Virgin, 

Never dreamed of heresy against Mary ; 

Never surmised any one could be bitter 

Against the Mother of Jesus, or treat 

Her with disrespect, or with ingratitude ; 

And this first lesson of ignorant distrust 

Pained him ; and then to have Messiah 

So treated, even before He was born ; 

The jewels of God had been committed 

Unto Joseph, and he could find no place 

For them. Doubts, haste and responsibilities press 

On his reverent and tender heart. He stands 

At the foot of the lane of the last house. 

They have asked at every door. " Jesus Christ 

Has slighted no one." " It is all have slighted 

Him." All have had the sublime opportunity 

To have had Jesus Christ born at their house 

And have refused. "Earth has seldom witnessed 

Such a scene." Mary, Joseph, the Eternal Word 

In the uncharitable streets of Bethlehem — 

A winter night closing in. Joseph feels 

The presentiment : all things are converging 

To the eternal point. Jesus is waiting 

11* 



-* 



*• 



126 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

To come and he can find, for Him, no place 
To be born in. The village is occupied 
With doings " more important, according 
To th' world's estimate, what is important." 
Mary and Joseph had never before been 
So destitute of all human assistance, 
As at this the time of their greatest need. 
Joseph stands almost distraught. They cannot 
Stay out under the stars. Then said Joseph, 
' My courage fails;' then said Mary, ' We have done 
What we can do. Let us again ask God 
To show us what to do and commit ourselves 
To his providence.' " Doubtless," said Joseph, 
" Some mystery underlies all this," and he knelt 
By the famished ass on which Mary sat, 
And prayed; and when he had prayed, remembered 
To have seen as they rested under a tree, 
Before they came up to the city, a grotto 
Where shepherds had been accustomed to shelter 
Their flocks at night. As the twilight deepens 
Joseph and Mary descend the hill, they find 

The Cave. 



1011 111 



•• A sort of a grotto with an erection before it, so commc. 
those lands by which depth and coolness were obtained. Tin 
cavern seems to draw them like a spell. Souls are strangely 
drawn when within the vortex of a divine vocation." — Faber. 

Joseph finds in the cave two white heifers 

And an ox. The poor beasts kneel down as Mary 

Comes in. There is besides a stone crib 

That is empty, and a heap of fresh straw — 

The preparations God makes for Himself! 



*■ 



— . ■ * 

BETHLEHEM. 127 

Joseph is seen sweeping th' cave and making 
A couch for Mary of th' straw. Mary divides 
Th' scraps of provision left for their supper. 

Eight O'clock in the Cave. 

Stars are drifting grandly over this spot. 

Are there more stars ? ' Joseph is standing at the door 

Of the cave. ' Something is going to happen ! ' 

The mysteriousness perceptibly deepens." 

Joseph goes back to look upon Mary. 

Mary stands looking into the empty crib ; " 

She is very silent, but her eye burns 

With a deep light, and "Joseph speaks not 

A word, but paces up and down the dim 

And mysterious little cavern-stable, 

Curiously watching Mary." " She is 

Just lifting her eyes from the crib." He has seen 

On her face something he has never seen 

There before, " that sweet impatience perceptible 

In all his moves to-night increases." " His heart 

Is so hot, too, for waiting ! " But Joseph 

Feels an awe so deep flowing to his heart — 

God is too perceptibly in this place — 

He must fall back to his watch by the door; 

But before he goes he will yet prostrate 

More profoundly at the feet of Mary, 

And a^ain beseech her sweet forgiveness 

For all his doubts that had been. " That he had 

Ever doubted was alway an humiliation 

To Joseph," and he said, ' Is it possible 

That I shall, indeed, behold my dear Lord 

And Redeemer within your chaste arms? 

. _ h|, 



*- 

128 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

That I shall adore Him there and shall see 

His Divine Face ? That I shall touch Him and live ? 

Whence comes to me bliss such as no one could 

Ever have deserved? What offering have 

I ? What treasures that I can, in return, 

Lay at His Feet?' And our august Lady 

Replied, ' The great God comes into the world 

Not to find riches, for he needs them not; 

For treasures He would not descend from Heaven. 

Arise, Joseph ! ' And Joseph kissed seven times 

The floor under her feet and withdrew to his watch. 

Nine O'Clock in Bethlehem-Cave. 

Mary seated upon the little couch of straw surveying the stable. 

She takes with her ineffable unborn 
An inventory of it all. " She sees the beasts, 
The darkness, th' straw." " It is just as they would have 
It." " For nine months, at least, if not before, 
She had seen only with His eyes and loved 
Only with his heart." His tastes are her tastes, 
" His standards were her standards." Th' young mother 
Of a God born to redeem th' world by penance 
Loves the cave as it is. The beautiful hour 
Has come for which she was born immaculate ; 
A light flits over her sweet face. 

"As the Daughter of the Prophets sat on her little couch of 
straw that night, what visions swept up to her through the chaos 
and darkness of centuries past." — Orsini. 

Joseph sleeps at the doorway and th' angels 
Sing who surround Mary. Now they invite 

* ■ 



*M 



— .% 

BETHLEHEM. 129 

Her to repose, and Mary is obedient 

To the recommendation of the angels ; 

But kneels first by her little bed of straw : 

Mary prays in Bethlehem before Jesus 

Is born therein, thus consecrating the cave 

For her Divine Son to be born therein ; 

And then she sinks into that dear straw couch. 

It is rather cold, but all is so sweet and still ; 

Her two shoes sit evenly together by her couch — 

Her veil is spread for a blanket in the crib — 

Elizabeth's basket at the foot of the crib. 

Ten o'clock in the cave ! Mary sleeps ; 
The cave is in stillness and darkness, except 
A little ring of light upon the ground 
Around the dim burning lantern on the earth, 
A few paces from the bed of Mary, where 
Joseph had left it for the night. It is chill 
And cavernlike ; but the place seems still full 
Of angels; " which we almost rather feel 
Than see — then we see them so distinct," 
But all so still, " such mystery in their faces; " 
Not a sound is heard : the very restless beasts 
Are still. They arc not asleep — the beasts — yet : 
Their large eyes are wide open set ; but each limb 
So still. See that ox with his large head prone 
Upon the earth — his wide-branching horns 
In the shadow — his full ox-eyes wide-open — 
And old Assinus so accustomed to the sight 
Of Mary, stands on his knees wondering 
As the humbled ox beside him. The darkness 
Deepens. Th' angels are withdrawing. 

* 



♦J*— «f» 

130 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Eleven o'clock ! 
The stillness has perceptibly increased. 
The beasts are now asleep. They have not stirred 
Once upon their knees ; but their eyes are closed : 
Mary is alone with the beasts in the cave — 
Three angels standing outside the entrance — 
The angels may not now intrude, — Joseph 
In his profound sleep at the mouth of th' cave, 
Is nearer to Mary because he is her spouse. 
Nevertheless Mary sleeps. A rose leaf 
Fallen upon her lips, more beautiful, 
Had not stirred. It was sublime — the stillness 
In that cave — It was godlike — as eternity — 
Sleeping in an ecstacy with Jesus ! 

Twelve o'clock ! Awoke with the sweet pressure 
Of her longing, she knelt down to pray, 
And her face and her body shone, knelt there 
Before the Father. " She who encompasses 
God pours out her soul," and it seems as though 
Even Mary, whose sweet wishes all sweet rest 
In the dear hand of God, could not wait for God ; 
So wrestles her flaming soul to launch out 
Upon the ocean of this great motherhood. 
The Immaculate Bride of the Holy Ghost 
Knows the transcendent hour is near — so longs 
To measure its depths — to clasp her Treasure. 
She only uplifts her sweet arms in ecstacy ; 
But dares to ask to see that Sacred Face. 
The dart has sped. The shaft that cannot be dipt 
Has reached the Bosom of the Holy Ghost, 
And at once she was wrapped in a light 



*■ 



•M 



* 

BETHLEHEM. 131 

In which she was indistinguishable. 
" In secrecy with God" — alone with God — 

Was the Mother of God one great moment 

Or era, hidden. 

' ' Just as the rising 

Of the mysterious constellation Virgo 

Announced midnight, amid the solemn stillness 

Of nature, concealed by a luminous cloud, 

Th' almah of th' great Messaic prophecy 

Brought forth Him whom God Himself had produced 

Before the hills, and who was begotten 

From all eternity." * Praised be God ! 

As she prayed, she knew not her Divine Son 

Was born, save as she felt that virtue had 

From her gone — as Jesus afterward felt 

When some one had touched Him in the crowd. 

She saw " a most clear and beautiful light 

Upon the ground," and in midst of the light 

Her Divine Babe "lay smiling upon th' skirt 

Of her robe beside her" — " sudden appeared 

Like a rainbow emerging from a cloud," 

And astonished she fell down to adore — 
" The bloom of God flushing her all over" 

As her eyes feed sweetly upon this Child. 
" She sees His loveliness" — the loveliness 

Of the First-born of God and her own flesh. 

She is the first creature beholding God, 

And receives the first blessing of Jesus. 

The new Saviour blesses His pre-saved one, 

Who meets Him as the first of her people 



*Orsini. 



■* 



*lt ,^ 

1.32 THE SAINT OF NAZAKETH. 

To be saved ; for herself and her people. 

O how meet ! that He who comes to redeem 

A race, and that so extensively lost, 

Should be embraced first by the noblest one 

Of th' race, as when Mary saluted her Babe — 

He upon th' ground of th' cave, she on her knees. 

She who had alone in her pure existence 

Sprung up and grown as the one white lily 

Among virgins for this one exalted purpose ; 

She who " had been clothed in its conception 

With new purity" was also now " clothed 

With a new and magnificent pureness" 

For this ineffable motherhood : all 

Of the garments of her soul were enlarged : 

A new charity, a new divineness fell 

From heaven over her : she is gifted 

With all things worthy of th' Mother of th' God 

Of the Incarnation — fortitude, trust, 

Longanimity, calmness, a whole world 

Of gentleness, serenest sweetness, courage : 

She was made worthy to be the Mother 

Of God manifest in the flesh. 

Mary 
Is kneeling still over the Incarnate God ; 
The angels of the Holy Family 
Are bowed around her. " There is something 
Always that allures familiarity in Jesus" — 
" Something in the little imprisoned God." 
" It reached up Its little hands." Arch-Michael, 
Or Gabriel, would have presented the Babe 
To His Mother, but the sweet Eternal Child 
Prefers the hands of His human Mother 

♦$*= : . 4* 



.* 



BETHLEHEM. 133 

To touch Him first. It is her privilege. 
Mary uplifts her Babe iu teuderest adoration, 
And the angels fall down at her feet ; 
The Virgin holds her Babe, and the angels 
Adore their God in th' arms of a mother — 
An Almighty Father with the Holy Ghost — 
Heaven full of angels looking down. 

Mary sits down with the Babe upon the straw, 

Gabriel opens the bundle of bands, 

Michael stands beside the Virgin and Child — ■ 

Mary hears th' sky beginning to waken 

All through its vaults with music — the Gloria 

la Ezcelsis Deo beginning to break. 

Raphael touches Saint Joseph, asleep at the door ;: 

Joseph looks up into th' very bright face 

Of Raphael all in a beautiful wonder — 

His eyes, his heart drenched with a great light — 

He stands a moment, great Saint as he is, dazed — 

The cavern is full of light, and in the centre 

Mary, seated upon the gold-burning straw, 

In the beauty of her virgin maternity, 

Is swathing an infant that she holds 

Upon her knees, " from the body of which 

Tssues rays of light that illumine the cave 

And all it contains." * He saw that Mary 

was crowned with a new diadem of rays, 

And her fingers sparkled as they swathed the child, 

And filled with great confidence, he approached 

In admiration to look upon the Child 

From whose body the rays of light issued, 

* Orsini. 



134 THE SATNT OF NAZARETH. 

And the songs of the angels were suspended, 
And there was a silence when he approached, 
And in the midst of the silence he heard, 
A voice address itself to him in his heart, 
" This is my Son ! " and he fell before the Child, 
And the hymns recommenced, " Glory to God!'''' 
For the time the songs continued — in their height 
So jubilant the whole cave shook — the ground 
Under his face and knees was palpitant; 
And when there was a significant pause — 
A magnificent silence in the cave — 
lie arose upon his knees and saw Mary, 
The midnight cave and tue Infant Jesus 
And adored. And as he looked on the Babe 
There was a confusion, and three shepherds 
Entered, some say four, and a lamb followed 
The shepherds, and the shepherds prostrated 
Before the Child ; the lamb also knelt down : 
Behold 1 

" His court, His kingly court attend! " 
" A virgin mother, calm and fair, 
Lost in adoring rapture there, 
A venerable man with hoary hair, 
And face with joy elate." 
" And blameless shepherds bent the knee ! " 

And the joy of the shepherds when they looked 
Upon the Infant was great. Simple souls, 
They kissed the hands and the feet of the Babe 
In their innocent boldness and questioned 
Mary. Childlike men, they are not afraid 
Of Him. They do not know why one should not 
Touch God. 

Joseph saw the shepherds looking 

'<% i 



* 

BETHLEHEM. 135 

Upon the Babe and then upon Mary, 

In their simplicity and in their joy, 

And Mary looking upon the Infant, 

And at the same time the Infant locking 

On the shepherds, and what was the happiness 

Of Joseph as the Babe looked on him ! joy 

Diffused in the heart of Joseph as often 

As the Babe looked upon him. 0, Joseph, 

It is so good to have the shepherds here 

To help you to adore the newborn God ! 

TV shepherds remarked a star shone through th' roof 

Of the cave — in an opening of the rock — 

And told Mary, how as they watched the flocks, 

Tliat night the angel of the Lord appeared 

And informed them of the birth of her Son. 

And one of their number, a young shepherd 

Who wore upon his head a crown of flowers, 

He had plucked from the cliffs the evening before 

For his betrothed, removed the fragrant chaplet 

From his own head, and untwining the wreath 

Scattered the roses over th' crib* and knelt- - 

And a canticle of great sweetness swept 

Through the cave — and the shepherds said, looking 

Upon one another, ' It is the angels,' 

And fell on their faces before the Child, 

And when th' angels ceased the shepherds lifted 

Their brows bold and beautiful in the light 

That upon them fell from the Divine Babe 

And repeated the canticle th' angels had sang : 

* Orsini. 

$ 



*" 



136 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And when they had satisfied their devotion, 
They kissed again the feet of the Infant 
And went back to their flocks singing the high 
And happy canticle of praise they had learned 
By the way. 

Regard Joseph reentering 
The cave — having guided the shepherds out — 
It was so good to have the shepherds here ; 
Now it is good to have Mary and the Babe all 
To himself again. 

Mary is seated 
Upon a low seat, her Babe in her lap. 
There is a bright halo around the Babe 
And another halo around the mother. 
Joseph begins to burn — the ardent heart 
Of Joseph, and his kind hands and his arms 
To infold the Babe ; but a humility 
Restrained him : then radiant Mary divined 
What was in his heart and arose and advanced 
And put the Divine Babe into his arms, 
And he received It with great reverence. 
" Shadows only speak by the shade they cast." 
' ' We are reminded whose shadow Saint Joseph 
Was." The. angels are not so happy now 
As Saint Joseph. " And how exultant were 
The angels that night;" " how sang to the shepherds," 
" How circled and wheeled round in circles 
Over that midnight cave." But the angels 
Have not embraced Him. Man are th' privileged. 
How the angels exult to see that man Joseph. 
The angels have always loved Saint Joseph, 
That man with a heart so like an angel. 



*" 



* 

BETHLEHEM. 137 

How they pour their songs out over that cave, 
How they crowd in to see Jesus in the arms 
And upon the breast of Joseph. " Michael 
The angels envy to-night" as he stands 
Nearest to th' tenderly bright Infant King, 
" All along they have envied Gabriel," 
But more than all they envy Joseph. Mary, 
Somehow they could not envy. 

Joseph stands 
Holding the beautiful newborn Saviour 
In his arms — Mary knelt before her spouse — 
The light emanating from the bright Babe, 
Ascending unto the silvery crown 
Of his white hairs, illuminating his head — 
Falling down over his garments to his feet — 
Falling over Mary, over the lamb 
That has come to kneel — its white wool touched 
As a fleece of gold against the sombre skirt 
Of Mary's dress. Mary wears black for Anna, — 
Another one of those shadows of Calvary 
Upon the Bethlehem floor — the Mother 
Of Messiah in sackcloth. Mary kisses 
Th' feet of the Babe in ecstacy, light 
Falling over her more and more — Joseph, 
Heaven in the cradle of his arms, gazing 
Into Its little Face. Who can sing here? 

Who can paint the Infant Saviour? 

Who can paint an Infant God ? 

Paint the sweet glows of the Face 

Mantled by the Precious Blood ! 
12* 

— . * 



£» 

138 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Who can sing the fairness of a mother 
Who never knew a stain — 

Not a shadow on her human whiteness 
Of the thrall and of the pain, — 

Shining ift her vi'rgin snows, 
Shining in her virgin splendor 7 

Who of Joseph's faee any 
Sweet account can reader 2? 

Saint Joseph represents what Father now I 
Blessed Saint Joseph are you not repaid 
For all you have suffered for Mary ? Paid ! 
0, don't mention it ! Joseph has Jesus ! 
0, Saint Joseph, are not you recompensed 
For your years of subjugation of th' flesh, 
For all of your privations, charities, toils? 
O, don't mention it, Saint Joseph has Jesus 

Stands the gentle, radiant Joseph, 
With the sweet Incarnate Flower 
Speechless till the matin hour. 



0, my father! fragrant spirit, 

Husband of the Mystic Rose, 
Shed thy perfumes through my spirit, 

Stir me with the breeze that o'er thee blows. 

Give me to my breast to fold Him, 
Father of all fathers mild ! 
Let me clasp the shining Child ! 



*■ 



BETHLEHEM. 139 

Let my heart absorb in ardors 

This new Life that gives us life, 
Born this ever-goldened morning, 

King of Peace and end of strife ! 

Breathe thy spirit o'er my homage, 
Breathe the fire thy fervor knows, 
Touch me with thy seraph glows, 

Flood me with thy mystic sweetness, 

Burn, 0, burn! these vails away 
With this Infant and His mother 

And thyself this blessed day. 

St. Joseph, after Mary first adorer of Jesus, Infant, 
Pray for us." 

For a few days after many came to the cave, 

And then the tide slacked off: Some of these praised 

God, and some saw a very fair, young child ; 

But only a human child and caviled; 

And others proffered hospitality now too late. 

Mary would keep the law which suffered not 

She should leave her chamber for forty days ; 

Neither would she leave the chamber God 

Had provided. Perhaps the Daughter of th' prophets 

Looked down the ages even then and saw 

The long line of pilgrims in the desert 

Coming home to the foot of the crib. 

Poor, sweet parent-spot of Christianity ! 

Not for a palace would the blessed mother 

Have exchanged that Bethlehem-room in th' rocks. 



140 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Mary and Joseph would kneel by the crib 
For hours — the hours seeming but as moments ; 
And likewise the lamb remained by the crib ; 
And at night, the glow in the cave that came 
From the Child made a warmth while it lasted ; 
But the glow lessened in the third night 
And it was cold, and the Infant was touched 
With the cold and Mary took off her cloak 
And wrapped It, and the lips of the mother 
And Babe were blue. Must such a tiny thing 
Of beauty, must such a tender mother 
Suffer ? Must the new Heavenly Child know 
The woe and the cold so soon ? O, poverty ! 
Mary was cold and the Babe moaned. Joseph 
Was troubled. The wind has risen and is sharp. 
They must have fuel ; but what could he find ? 
How could he go out in the night-time and storm ? 
He knelt down to implore his angel 
And went out simply, and finding a few thorns 
And brambles gathered of them what he could 
And hastened in, and when he had entered 
There was fuel by th' rock where he had prayed ; 
Then Joseph, kneeling down, thanked Grod and took 
Of the wood and kindled a fire, and Mary 
Warmed the Infant by the little flame 
On the rock. And the fuel did not fail ; 
And Joseph built a fire in the cavern 
In the evening and th' morning, and th' fuel 
Was sufficient. 

Mary is meditating 
In the still, sweet face of the Babe — Joseph 
Gazing into the red flame upon th' rock, 



*■ 



: * 

BETHLEHEM. 141 

Sees " men as trees walking," one more glorious 
Walked with them, the features in whose face 
Were as the features of the Babe that lay 
Upon th' knees of Mary, warming in the flame ; 
And Joseph saw, also, that which was past. 
Now, it was an orchard, and in the midst 
Of the wood was a tree, and a woman 
By the tree, and a serpent ; and Joseph 
Covered his eyes, for he knew the vision ; 
And after this, he saw another woman, 
And her countenance was as the countenance 
Of Mary, his spouse, and the woman looked 
Upward to the heavens and the heavens 
Shone upon her, and her garments were white, 
More than the snow, and she stood with her foot 
Upon the serpent — and he heard singing — 
His eyes closed, he listened to the singing. 
Mary was singing to her Babe as she warmed 
It by the fire at midnight. And, afterward, 
He added fuel, and when th' fuel had burned, 
Again he looked in the flame and discerned 
As it were a river, and upon the banks 
Were a multitude, and one baptized — a Dove 
Descending upon Him who was baptized. 
Again he looked and the crowd were lepers, 
And the sick, and such as were impotent; 
And He, whose countenance was beautiful, stood, 
And they pressed who might touch His garments, 
And they who had touched leaped. Again was 
The vision changed ; One was beaten with rods ; 
And he saw soldiers casting for garments ; 
And in the midst of the fire a mountain 



■* 



•i* — — *h 

142 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

With crosses upon it, and this same Man 
Hung upon one of the crosses. Joseph 
Groaned and awoke from the vision and wept 
By the fire — and fell into a deep sleep 
Until the morning. 

Mary, having warmed 
Her Babe and suckled it, laid it in the crib 
And knelt by the side of the crib to see It sleep : 

Joseph asleep, seated on a low stool 

By the smouldering coals — Mary asleep 

At the feet of the Babe ; beautiful sleepers ! 

How sweet Mary must have slept with Jesus 

At her breast, or at His feet — at the foot 

Of His crib. 0, Bethlehem! thou wert a land 

Of pleasantness. Thou wert a very world 

Of joy to Saint Joseph ! Blessed Joseph ! 

He would not have exchanged Bethlehem 

For Heaven. He had God, Mary and poverty 

And th' Angels. What more could St. Joseph want? 

And Mary and Joseph wanted not food, 
All the days that they remained in the cave, 
Whether angels ministered to them now — 
Bland, reverent celestials, coming in 
Bearing in heavenly dishes in their hands — 
A little golden tray heaped with th' delicacies 
Of Paradise, or whether the people 
Who visited them brought unto them food, 
In all provided for by angels, or men, 
Poor were Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, 

4< . — 4* 



BETHLEHEM. 143 

But cared for, dear family of the Lord ! 
And all that was brought was acceptable. 

" Never can a gift too costly, 

Touch the manger's humble shrine. 
Never can a gift too lowly, 

Jesus, touch that throne of thine." — Ave Maria. 



ANNO DOMINI. 

" The Holy Childhood takes the year, 
The lovely, tender year within its fold." 

(Morning of the circumcision — the gray of the dawn in the 
cave — " Mary holding the Babe of the Universe on her knee.") 

; /"iOME so soon ! ' Poor heart ! has the short octave 
\J In which with Joseph she has had the Babe 
Of the Precious Blood so soon gone? Has 
The crimson day so soon come? " She looks 
Into His Face" — where Mary always looked 
When in doubt — " a look meets her eyes that sends 
The blood in a sweet shiver to her heart." 
" There is a red spot upon either cheek 

Of the Babe." "In the almost transparent vase 
Of the Infant Body, her eyes have traced 
Its veins" before. " She has felt its pulses 
With awe as this Child has lain upon her breast 
At night to nurse." She has divined the meanings 
Of that Blood. " With her only a week 
And impatient ; " " Seven days without giving 
One saving drop." 0, loving, restive Blood! 
That yearns to let itself be led a victim 

* 4* 



* 



144 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

As soon as it is born — "from the first, full 

Of th' law-loving instinct of God's magnificence." 

The red deepens in the two white cheeks ; 

The Child could not rest in the Bosom 

Of His Father, " how then can he rest now 

In His Mother's arms?" Th' sins groan for it Let 

It make the offering. Then it will rest. 

Then it will rest for a time. " Its rest is 

In shedding its blood." 

Meantime Joseph stands 
In the little shed, or porch, before the cave, 
And prays for strength — for strength to be a Priest 
Of the Precious Blood. The Divine Infant 
Must be circumcised to-day and it devolves 
Upon him, and he never could have done 
It, only with the awe of his office, 
The solemnity and beauty of the stupendous 
And perfect sacrifice to be offered, 
Came over him. By the communication 
Of God he grew to his office. Behold 
Saint Joseph, how majestically he enters 
The cavern-chamber — no sound ! He approaches 
To Mary and the dear Babe with emotion, 
But with sacrificial control. Mary, 
For the first time, shudders as Joseph draws near 
To them, and Joseph sees Mary shudder. 
He who does God's work cannot falter. 

" She feels almost an aversion for Joseph, 
That he can do it." " Joseph sees it all." 
What a pain it is to him to wound Mary, 

" What a sweet look of pity he sheds 
On her and on the Infant." The Infant 



* ■ ! — *h 



BETHLEHEM. 145 

Looks into bis eyes and into the eyes 
Of His Mother. Mary arises and lays 
Her Babe into the arms of Joseph ; he goes 
From the cavern grandly. He is the Priest 
Of Jesus Christ now and makes a majestic one. 
God alway chooses well for his Beloved. 
While Joseph is going out Mary kneels 
Upon the spot where she saw Him first 
Upon the floor, the night that he was born. 

Joseph, having come without to a place 
That resembled an altar among the rocks 
Where he prayed, proceeded courageously to unswathe 
The Child, when again he faltered, looking 
In the sweet face of the young child was unnerved — 
Almost unnerved — knowing what Child It was : 
Before that he could proceed, yet questioned 
With the Child and thus himself strengthened : 
' Can I wound thee ? Thee, Messiah-Babe, gazing 
So gravely on me ? ' ' Can I live and see the blood 
Of my God on this barbarous knife ? ' ' Thou kuowest 
How I would not and forgive Thy own command. 
The eyes of the Babe encourage.' ' I do,' 
Said Joseph ; ' what am I, that I should judge, 
Or discern between the Lord and His law ? ' 
' I do and adore.' I offer my pain 
And my compassion, Lord, and obey.' 
Many angels prostrated behind Saint Joseph . 
So was the Son of the Eternal Father 
Circumcised: So was the Sweet Blood begun 
To be shed that is to buy the world back ; 
i fr -__——————- 



*f» Ifl 

146 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

So was our Saint Joseph the first great Priest 
Of the Precious Blood. 

August Saint Joseph, 
How honorable, awful, and efficacious 
And fatherly that priestly hand from hence : 

" I have never invoked Saint Joseph in vain."* 
The name it was given as the Blood flowed. 
Mary had refrained from pronouncing the name 
From a custom in Israel, or her spouse 
Had been promised this grace by the angel : 

" Thou shalt call His name Jesus." How Joseph 
Must have pronounced this adorable name ! 
Could we have heard him and then the angels ! 
St. Michael pronounced it after Joseph, 
St. Gabriel caught it up from St. Michael, 
St. Raphael, the next angel and the next, 
Standing in a line as stars reaching Heaven, 
All the angels shining on Jacob's ladder 
Said and repeated it — the next and the next, 
That sweet human name of God, flashing up 
Through the distances of Paradise 
Prom one warden to another, till to the Feet 
Of the Eternal Father, rose and rested 
That one ever-radiant, glowing name — Jesus. 

And th' Babe was borne to His mother, whose tears 

Flowed in unison with the first shedding 

Of that Precious Blood — Joseph was weeping, 

And "■ the Babe wept for content" — strange, sweet Infant — 

With delightful sweetness for the souls washed. 

* St. Teresa. 

* _ 



BETHLEHEM. 147 

It was the first time and the last, moreover, 
That Saint Joseph ever performed this rite. 
He was the priest just for the circumcision 
Of Jesus Christ. " It was his Calvary." 

"Long years have passed since that cruel new year's day of 
the Babe of Bethlehem, but it begins each year for us now. It 
is our new year's day. It braids upon the front of every com- 
ing year of life the name of Jesus, our life's dear Lord, and it 
braids it in those red snow-drops of the Precious Blood." — Faber. 

St. Joseph, pattern of silence and resignation, pray 

FOR US. 



FSOS. 







NTD that same day the Babe was circumcised 
Joseph went up to the city to enroll 
Their names : and when he who took the census 
Made question could he write, ' So was I taught,' 
Joseph having answered, ' Why,' said the man, 
' Writest thou not? ' for Joseph only leaned 
Over the parchment in a perplexity : 
Then Joseph to himself did violence, 
And wrote his name, Joseph, son of Jacob, 
A carpenter — his years ; th' name of his spouse 
And her age, and then the name of Jesus 
And His age. Joseph had hesitated, 
Because it was a great humility 
For him to write his name before Jesus 
And before Mary, and so he must write 
As other men, being the head of a family. 



* 



148 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

He felt a very sweet thrill when he wrote 
The very fair and precious name of Mary, 
But when he had written the name of Jesus, 
He brooded over it. what thousands 
And thousands of times it will be written 
And brooded over! It was the first time, 
Also, the name of Jesus had been written. 
It was one of the honors of Saint Joseph 
To write it first. Even as it had been 
To name Jesus, and there has never been 
A heart that burned toward the name as the heart 
Of Joseph, after that of the dear Mother. 
See how he bends over it ! Our Father 
And our Great Saint, well may he, to the name 
That was, that is, that shall be — every knee 
To bow in the heavens and upon earth — 
In the hell beneath. And just before — 
Walking as a white acolyte to God — 
That other, shining as the moon, white name, 
Just before Jesus — and she is thy spouse, 
The sweet Mother of Jesus, and thy name stand* 
Only one from God, leading that great group. 
" The three names in the world have been written 
As subjects or planets of obedience : " 
The Star, the Moon, the Sun. 

The man who keeps 
The roll of the names looks over to see 
What it is that Joseph is looking upon, 
And he, attracted, though he knows not why 
13y that name, he, too, over it, lingers — 
And he looked on it afterwards many times 
And it always shone upon the parchment. 



*■ 



-* 



♦$♦ ,£ 

BETHLEHEM. 149 



THE FORTY DAYS IN THE CAVE COM- 
PLETED. 

MARY fulfils her month within the cave. 
0, Bethlehem! 0, cave! 0, manger-month! 
Now she watches at night her Infant sleep, 
Almighty God sleep ! Now she sleeps so sweet, 
And often as she awakes makes acts of love, 
And omits not to arise and pray at midnight 
By the crib, because He was born at that hour ; 
And when the morning looks into the cave 
To see Him, kisses His sweet Feet and asks 
To serve Him. See Mary kissing the Feet 
Of the little Jesus — bathing the Child 
In the bowl of fresh water Joseph brings 
From the well of the city — or she wraps 
Him now in the swaddling clothes and suckles 
Him at her virgin-breast. See Mary's eyes 
On her Babe. Nay, the scene is too holy ! 
It is too beautiful to see Mary nurse 
Jesus : too sacred ! Giving God sustenance — 
Or the dear Infant Person of the "Word 
Of her own immaculate mother-nectar— 
Suckling the Infant of Days : 

Then gives the Babe 
To Joseph while she spreads their simple meal 
Upon the rock. Bland Joseph, fondling Jesus, 
Finding a sweeter feast even than the meal 
Mary's hand spread; than even his, perhaps, 
Angel-brought-in breakfast. Serene Joseph, 

13* 



150 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Does he require other breakfast? hardly. 
Is it not a sufficiency — this feast 
With Jesus? As saints receiving the Host, 
Turn from the meats of earth, sweeter filled, — 

" If any man eat, he shall not hunger" — 
As that feast, robbing all fasting, giving 
Bread that is from Heaven. It was as a saint 

'* Receiving" — Saint Joseph holding Jesus, 
While Mary placed the biscuits and pitcher 
Of water upon th' rock that was their table. 
Then, through the day which followed serenely, 
Joseph received such as came to visit 
Them, and accepted their offerings in the name 
Of the Child : and the melody of angels 
Was heard oft-times; and Mary many times 
In the day, bowed down before th' little crib 
Where she laid Jesus to adore Him — Joseph 
In his reverence, knelt a little distant: 
And these days in the cave were precious : 
So was the Heart of the Son-of-Man-Babe 
First consoled on the earth : 

Or when He lay 
Upon Mary's lap and she overleaned, 
And Joseph knelt by in an ecstacy, 
That was beautiful. Mary would talk low 
To Jesus — every word an exuberance 
So tremulous — no seraph spoke so sweet, 
Th' eyes of the Babe would beam and her heart thrill. 
And Mary would sing in the evening low 
And sweet to the Babe — sweeter than the angels 
Could sing. Joseph in his own soft rapture 
Would sit in the door of the cave at twilight 



*• 



♦!♦ . — . — * 

FROM BETHLEHEM TO JERUSALEM. 151 

And hearken her sing ; and Mary always sang 
Her Babe to sleep with "Peace on earth to men 
Of good will ! " and the magnificat 
Was the angelus of Mary in those days. 



FROM BETHLEHEM TO JERUSALEM. 

THE forty days accomplished in the cave 
And Joseph having thanked God for all 
That which had come to pass therein and prayed 
For a blessing on their journey, behold 
Mary coming forth bearing our Saviour, 
Accompanied by Joseph, leading the ass. 
Behold Mary coining forth with Jesus, 
Emerging from her room in the rocks — 
Fair as the moon — ruddy as morn — ruddy 
For the glow in her face — the beautiful glow 
Basking in the Face of Jesus. 

They come, 
Princes of angels prostrate either side : 
Ave Miria, blessed among women! 
"Stella Matutina, ora pro nobis!" 
Thou comest forth bearing sweet Salvation 
In thy gracious arms, 0, Virgin Mary ! 
Welcome! A sweet welcome to the world, Mary : 
Meanwhile, Mary mounts happy Assinus. 
0, Assinus! thou hast been so proud bearing 
The princess, how canst thou step proud enough, 
Bearing the Queen and her beautiful Tnfant ? 
Three angels dimly discerned in the glow 
Of the dawn go on before the travelers. 



*■ 



■* 



152 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Mary draws the veil over her own brow 
And over th' brow of the Babe that " like a lily 
Of marvelous beauty," lies upon her arm, 
" As if she feared to let the world see 
She had Him." 

Joseph observes all the sweetness 
Of the new morning. The sweet mother has eyes 
Only for the Babe; and all Joseph saw 
Touched not his heart like Mary and the Child ; 
His eyes worshipped Mary with her Babe, 
Riding on the white ass. They are making 
Such a marvelous journey — from the cave 
To the temple, from th' manger to th' altar. 
They went on through the freshly verdant fields 
And pleasant hamlets — they converse not now. 
Words could not augment their joy. Jesus makes 
Their conversation interiorly and content. 
See the charm of silence in this sweet journey : 
How can they talk who have Jesus in their arms ! 
All of their journeys have been heavenly: 
None like this before. Jesus is making 
His first visible journey with His parents 

Mary sees Joseph yearns to help bear th' Babe : 
She, too, divides this supreme privilege — 
This transcendent care ; she places Jesus 
In his arms, delighted to see how her spouse 
Loves Jesus. How he folds Him to his breast ; 
How puts his arms around Him. Was ever babe 
By its father so adoringly folded ? 
How he looks down in His face ! How the Babe 
Cuddles down His head against his breast! 



*■ 



FROM BETHLEHEM TO JERUSALEM. 153 

The roofs of the Holy City are in sight — 

The glorious temple crowning Moriah 

Where Mary had spent twelve years of her life. 

To that beautiful house of her almahood, 

She is coming back in all the first snows 

Of her purity, back to it still a virgin, 

Yet mystery of grace, a mother with a child. 

0, how blest! to keep her virginity 

And be a mother too! — A mother too ! 

For Joseph, Jerusalem held the Temple — 

And in the temple they had been married: 

Come to the place — it was a little way 

From the gates, where the women had sprinkled 

The garments of Mary with the essence 

Of roses as she came out from the city 

After her marriage — Joseph comprehends 

It all now — It was for this. How lucid 

Are God's ways when looked back upon — 

How lucid to thee, Joseph. 

And, Jesus, 
Let all my heart draw to Him, for the first time 
Entering that Jerusalem that is so dear 
To Him. 0, Omnipotent Babe ! Shall not 
The whole city rise up to meet Thee ? Shall 
They not look in the Face of thy Babe and know 
0, magnificent mother ! thy secret? Mary 
Divines not, it seems, for her modesty 
Takes no alarm. She moves as quietly on. 
0, Jerusalem ! are not thy streets blind ! 
Th' young King of angels, thousands of angels 
And that young mother whiter than the angels, 



154 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And that man with face as an angel of the Lord, 
No one mistrusting anything is occurring ; 
They so marvelously content withal ; 
" It is only we who feel it is not right," 
" Who would see all the city at their feet." 

Princess of Purity, bearing the Sovereign Babe 
In thy arms — Queen of Humility, bearing 
The Imperial Child, hasten up to th' temple! 
They will know thee there. 

That imperial maiden, 
Bearing the Sacred Child, comes. They cross 
The square before the temple. They kiss the bars 
Of the gate. They pray in the holy porches. 
Go in sweet Mary — violet Virgin ! 
The Messiah-Babe within thy bosom, 
Humility glorified! She goes gravely in, 
Her heart falling lower than the shadow 
Of her brow on th' golden pavement ; feeling 
How unworthy she is to bring home the Son 
Of Almighty God to His Father's House. 
She goes in greatly glorified, but with a meekness 
Surpassing the humblest maiden in all Israel. 
They go on through many rooms unobserved — 
Silently soul, follow over the golden floors — God. 

Prayer — Prepare us, O Lord, to be present at the Blessed 
Virgin's and St. Joseph's Presentation of Jesus Christ. 



*■ 



*■ 



* 




JPpFsrnMion of Jfsus. 




HE comes, her beauteous feet who bears 
Up to the Golden Rooms, 
The loveliest offering and crown 
Of all sweet human blooms. 



He leads to sacrifice who knows 
What priceless Gift he brings, 

Unto His house, what altar to, 
What little King of kings. 

0, proudest triumph ! Joseph hath 
The earth's desire brought home, 

The Son unto His lovely courts — 
The dear old Temple-dome ! 

And even now to meet him comes 

Within yon sacred door 
A grand saint by the spirit drawn 

His dear Babe to adore. 

0, loveliest of mysteries ! 

The young Eternal charms 
Of Paradise infolded in 

Those poor, old, withered arms! 



$"" "4 m 



156 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

How fondly they embrace — those arms- 
That darling Babe of Grace ! 

How beams that wrinkled face above 
That little blessed Face ! 

And closing now his burning eyes, 
A song, Saint Simeon sings, 

So sweet, 'tis as the Spirit's spell 
Of all dear heavenly things : 

"Nanc Dlmittas /" Sweet old Saint! 
For thou hast touched the crown ! 
Enough ! thy silver song shall sail 
The hoary ages down. 

Saint Joseph rapt to ecstacy, 

By holy Simeon stands, 
And Zachary comes to see — 

A mystery understands ; 

Watches the beaming mother fall 

At radiant Simeon's feet, 
Watches Saint Joseph kneel beside — 

The old man's face so sweet ! 

Watches each gesture of the Saint, — 
The Three — the Babe — and hears 

The dazzling airs cleft by a sword 
And Mary's sudden tears. 

Hears spiritually the tears 
That silent fall and cease ; — 

The Babe looks in His mother's eyes, 
The room is dight in peace. 



*■ 



'* 



PRESENTATION OF JESUS. 157 

It is a sanctity that's sharp, 

And grand as sharp, Queen, 
A cleaving one, but still no moan, 

Such peace was never seen. 

By Simeon she stricken stands, 

In Jesus' Face, His dole, 
She sees a vision of her dolors first 

Indented in her soul. 

His grave eyes look it into her, 

His Eyes engrave it there: 
Saint Simeon is silent now, 
And Mary ne'er more fair ; 

And matron Anna nears to kiss 

Beloved Mary's cheek, 
The sweet revealment in her prayers, 

Fler precious hope to speak. 

The Priest, the Saint lead on to keep 

The ancient law's behest, 
And Mary with the Victim Babe 
Oa her ensanguined breast. 

The little unknown Master has come into the courts of Hin 
glorious temple, but not to take possession. " There is a thicker 
veil of humiliations around Him than that which shrouds the 
Holy of Holies.'' "The Incarnate "Word, whom the silent 
angels of the temple are worshipping as He approaches his pre- 
sentation," comes not as a ruler, but as a victim. "The true- 
High Priest," but no one of the Levites, no one of the many 
priests, no one but Simeon, Anna and Zachary penetrate Mary's 
secret, and Joseph who had been before instructed of the angel, 
and who "fitted into the mystery as Mary's and Jesus' pro- 

14 



158 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

tector." The windows of His house full of angels, Mary made 
an offering such as had never been made before since the world 
l> jga u. 

"The mother's heart shines through ... as if its light were mag- 
nified by that other radiance through which it shines . . . The will 
... is present, it is unquenchable, its pathos is immutable, but . . . 
.subject with the most . . . meritorious subjection, seen through the 
transparent will of God, which never oppresses the glories it over- 
rules." Mary is giving away her Child. "In His eyes which look so 
many volumes, in each single glance we read His perfect knowledge 
. . . His mother is lifting Him ... as into the mouth of a devouring 
lire, but His soul is on fire already with the promptitude of His own 
human will, and it almost out-glories the dames of the furnace of 
that Eternal will which is opening to receive its victim." "Love 
yearns more to be sacrificed" for its poor world " than justice to con- 
sume the sacrifice." — Faber. 



GOING HOME WITH JESUS. 

ANNA would have detained Mary for a feast 
Of true joy with the mistresses and almahs, 
As the sweet custom when an almah brought 
Her first born to present in the temple, 
But how could Mary feast " with that sharp sword 
Of the Holy Ghost in her heart? " " There is a wound 
In her heart that cannot heal " She will go back 
With Him " and let it bleed all her life." 

'(Joseph bringing Mary and Jesus through the Gate 
of Damascus ) 

0, Joseph ! with what a lift of the heart, 
Thou didst come in at this gate this morning, 
Bringing in with thee the mother and Child ; 
Thou goest out with what anxiety and forboding, 
Stealing a glance now at the face of Mary, — 
0, how beautiful ! in her first dolor — 



, 3 

GOING HOME WITH JESUS. 159 

Pressed close to the heart pondering all these things, 

The dear Divine Babe hid in her bosom. 

Joseph could not hear sorrow foretold 

To Mary and Jesus and not suffer. 

lie walks sorrowfully calm, in the eclipse 

Of Mary's woe, fitly; his heart bleeding 

For both. He had looked upon Bethlehem, 

Had shared it with Mary and was bringing 

His Creator into His House ; and just as 

lie was bringing Him in — in his triumph — 

In the grandest act of his office— 

Tlie very act of presenting Messiah 

Upon the altars of Israel, how had God 

Met him ! He stood with Mary and Jesus 

Suddenly stricken; but he looked upon Mary 

And was instructed by her fortitude. 

Jesus has grown a thousand-fold dearer 

Since the morning, he but wants to gather 

Him to his breast; in some tangible way 

This foster father wants to protect his Child. 

But if He has grown so precious to Joseph 

In these few last hours, what must lie have grown 

To Mary? " What a sweet accumulation 

Of tenderness must have been shed in her soul." 

Can she consent that another bear her Babe 

To-day? Without the loss of a moment 

She gives Him to Joseph. She was never — ■ 

Never could be for a moment selfish — 

Never unready for a sacrifice ; 

Mary always loves to bestow Jesus 

Upon others; " to have others desire 

Jesus is the delight of Mary's heart." 



>*J# 



* . 

160 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

She from her arras will give Him — give Him to all 
Who of her ask. Give us often Jesus, 
Sweet mother! often under His white vails, 
Sweetest Jesus ! unto our inmost heart ! 
" Those vails the color of the swathing-bands" 
In which His mother used to wrap Him. 

Mary loves to see Jesus love others. 
See, she has given Jesus to Joseph. 
He has not before presumed to ask — save 
With his eyes. He has spoken now and asked. 
It is sorrow makes love bold and beautiful — 
The woe impending for Jesus brings out 
Our pitiful hearted Saint Joseph bravely. 
He holds out his strong and paternal arms 
And the dear, little, Divine One lies mute 
Upon his breast. Saint Joseph bends his head 
Toward Him and moves on his way absorbed. 

Mary and Joseph are arriving at home. 
Since she left her little house upon the hill 
In the winter, how much has transpired : 
But there it stands as simple as ever. 

While yet a great way off Eleazer saw 
Them and ran to meet them and bowed down 
Unto the ground thrice, as he came, and kissed 
Th' feet of Mary and Joseph ; and Mary 
Uncovered the Babe and showed Him to Eleazer ; 
And Eleazer kissed the feet of the Infant, 
And his heart was filled with a torrent 
Of happiness ; and he implored Mary 
That he might bear Him the rest of the way 

4- , ♦!♦ 



* 

GOING HOME WITH JESUS. 161 

Up to her house, and Mary so suffered, 
And he rejoiced over the Babe greatly. 

And Mary, having come into her house, 
A.11 of the women of the hamlet came 
To welcome her back and to wish her joy 
For th' birth of a Son. Let us contemplate 
These women wishing Mary joy for the birth 
Of Jesus — knowing not their young Saviour ; 
But haviug come to see Mary and Jesus, 
Were filled with peace and an interior joy, 
Insomuch that they could not comprehend 
It. But they brought fishes and loaves, 
Remembering Mary had come from a journey 
With a young child and that she had no maid ; 
For Huldah, handmaid of Anna, who had been, 
Was married at this time and lived in th' home 
Of her husband, and Mary and Joseph 
Had no servant left but old Eleazer. 

And Salome and the other women 

That visited Mary delighted to caress 

The Babe, and the Holy Infant seemed 

Pleased with the kindness of these poor women : 

And Mary enjoyed this admiration 

Of her poor neighbors and thought how He came, 

As they gazed on Him, to save their souls. 

" Joy returns, but still the sword 

Near her heart its watch must keep; 
Woes within its purpose stored 
Are not stifled, only sleep." 

St. Joseph, whom the Lord made master of His house 
and ruler of his possessions, pray for us." 

14* 



11)2 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 



A FAMILY VISIT AT NAZARETH. 

AND when Jesus' reputed grandfather 
Heard of His birth, he said to Cleophas, 
Prepare now three asses, one for me, one 
For thy mother, and one for Mary thy wife, 
We will go up and see Joseph, our son, 
Before we die ; and thou shalt accompany 
Us, too, and go up to see thy brother. 

Soba, also, sister of Joseph, went 
With them, who went up drawn only to see 
Her brother, and by coming unto Joseph 
Found Jesus and Mary. Beautiful had 
This affection always been — the friendship 
Of Joseph for this sister and of this sister 
For Joseph. The love between a brother 
x\nd sister may be a beautiful thing. 

Joseph saw his parents and went down the hill 
To meet them and welcome them as Saint Joseph 
Would welcome a father and mother and lead 
Them as Saint Joseph would lead them in where 
Mary and the Child were. 

Mary hearing 
A joyful sound of voices outside, looked 
Through the lattice and saw the company : 
And seeing a very venerable old man 
And woman and the face of Joseph beaming, 
She divined and went forth upon th' threshold 
And met them as the Blessed Virgin would meet 

*. , - 4, 



A FAMILY VISIT AT NAZARETH. 163 

The patriarchal father and sweet mother 
Of her benignant spouse. 

Behold Jacob 
And Susannah, who are very old, drawn 
By an inward illumination, knelt 
At the Feet of the young Child in the arms 
Of His mother: and they adored the Babe ; 
And Mary raised them up and embraced 
Them ; and then she proceeded to speak 
To Soba, who stood yet upon the plat 
Before the door of th' little house, holding 
Both of the hands of Joseph, her brother — 
And to Cleophas, the brother of her spouse 
And his wife, Mary, who brought also 
With her a young child of a year and a month, 
At that time, which she put upon the ground 
When she saw Mary coming out to meet 
Them : and Mary sat her Babe on the earth 
When she hastened to embrace her kinfolk ; 
And while they yet conversed before the door, 
The young child of Mary Cleophas, crept 
To where the Babe Jesus was on the turf; 
And th' Babe Jesus looked upon th' other Babe, 
And th' other Babe with a cry of delight, 
Crept up to the Babe Jesus and said 
With a sweet voice as a bird, ' My brother ! ' 
And then laid his head down in the lap 
Of the Blessed Babe Jesus, and gazed up 
Into His beautiful Face; and then Jesus 
Knew he would be one of His disciples. 
The name of the child that lay in the lap 
Of Jesus was James. The Holy Virgin, 



■* 



*♦- 

164 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Saint Joseph and the parents of James saw 
The two young children together and were filled 
With much admiration ; and the parents 
. Of James testified to Mary and Joseph, 
That the child had never before spoken. 
Mary, the mother of Jesus, spake not, 
But looked upon the babes, as did Joseph ; 
And the two had affection for each other 
Above that of other children from this time: 
And the Blessed Virgin and Mary Cleophas, 
Who had never before met, from this hour 
Loved each other, also, more than sisters. 

After three days, Cleophas and his wife 

And Soba, who left her husband at home 

And her children, returned to their own homes; 

But said Jacob, I and my wife are old 

And we may never come again, we will come 

When we have staid for a time with Joseph. 

Jacob took great delight in this visit ; 
And he questioned Mary as he was alone 
With her and the Child about the shepherds 
And the angels that the shepherds heard sing; 
And he hung upon her words and the heart 
Of th' old man clave to his daughter-in-law, 
And he worshipped her almost as the Child ; 
For he could comprehend her better — 
A little — and it pleased the Holy Infant, 
Who saw his devotion for His mother : 
And the piety of Jacob ripened much 
Every day that he staid with Mary — grew 



*> 



A FAHIJ.Y VISIT AT NAZARETH. 165 

Bright as tender, perennial old patriarch ! 
More human than Joseph, but admirable — 
Saint Joseph's old father ; and he believed 
In Mary and in the dear young Child. Let 
Us consider Jacob sitting by Mary, 
Contemplating the Babe upon her lap 
And requesting Mary to lay the Babe 
Within his arms ; Mary laying Jesus 
In his arms and a spiritual brightness 
Coming into his soul, it being revealed 
To him that this Child is the Messiah. 

And while Jacob spake more with Mary, 
And held the Child, Susannah, dear mother, 
Leaned toward Joseph, and inquired regarding 
The rod she heard blossomed at his marriage ; 
She, too, aximired his spouse, the holy daughter 
Of Anna, the sweet wife of her dear son 
And the mother of that lovely Infant ; 
But Susannah was consoled by seeing 
Saint Joseph, her son, and was enlightened 
The more that she saw of his holiness. 

The parents of Joseph sleep for the last time 
Beneath the holy roof of Nazareth ; 
Susannah beholds Joseph in her dream, 
Jesus in his arms, then Mary standing 
By Saint Joseph, regarding both the Babe 
And her spouse, and is awakened by Jacob 
Murmuring of a star — "A Star shall arise 
In Jacob." — Seeing in his sleep the line 
Of a caravan. 



*- * 

166 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The tents are in the sands : 
The moon has gone down in the desert : 
The cloth of the tent, the sand around illumined : 
The Star burning in th' still air over th' tent: 
The kings sleep upon an orient mat 
Spread upon th' ground, and the tent is open 
To the night. " It is summer and the dews 
Are sweet." We see by the light of the Star 
Their crowns, the gleam of the jeweled garments, 
The gleam of scimitars against the wall — 
The king's spear — th' gravity and peacefulness 
Of their faces — coming to the Christ 

Saint Joseph sleeps on a mat at the door 
Of the chamber of his aged parents, 
Who will never come to see him again. 
Thou art amiable, Saint Joseph ! 
' Where is my little Lord and His mother ?' 
My little Lord is in His mother's chamber, 
In the " nursery of the little King of kings," 
In the little chamber within the rock, 
In the divine room of the Incarnation ; 
Here the Holy Child takes His seeming rest, 
While even now that little King watches 
The white tent cloths of the desert — His Star 
Burning over — watches His kings coming. 

It was a lovely morning to commence 

A journey. Jacob having staid many days, 

Arose to depart: and he blessed Joseph, 

His son, and Mary, his spouse, and the Child. 

See Jesus in the arms of His mother 

* =4 



KING-DAY. 167 

As Mary kneels at the feet of Jacob, 
Her father-in-law. Behold the Creator 
At the feet of His creature ! The Creator 
Being blessed by a creature ! 

And Susannah 
Kissed Mary and the Child, and they departed ; 
And Joseph accompanied them a part 
Of the way, and when he could go no farther 
The parents of Joseph fell upon his neck 
And kissed him, and said, ' Thou art our first-born ; 
The Lord bless thee all days ! ' And they could not 
Say more for weeping, but kissed him, yet thrice, 
And turned their faces toward Galilee: 
The last time Saint Joseph saw his parents 
In this world. He stood and prayed for them till 
He saw them from sight, and then hastened back 
T' Mary and th' Child^he would not leave alone 
At th' night-time ; but Eleazer, faithful servant, 
Accompanied them the rest of the way. 



KING-DAY. 

SAINT JOSEPH prunes to day 
The old pomegranate trees, 
And looking down the Hill, 
A caravan, he sees. 

A royal caravan it seems : 

He wondering stands to gaze : 

They press right up the Hill! 
His hand Saint Joseph stays. 



■* 



«- 



■* 



168 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

A lengthened caravan ! 

The rear is in the plain ; 
They on the dromedaries ride 

As men who're born to reign. 

The tree, half-pruned, is left, 
Astonied, great, complete, 

Saint Joseph hastens in 
To tell at Jesus' feet. 

The Babe is just asleep 
On Mary's lovely arm; 

The cot is still, the air, 

Touched with the dearest charm. 

' They come ! they come ! the kings 

' Arabia's princes ride ; ' 
Sighs Mary, low, ' the Lord 
Is good ! His will betide ! ' 

What aileth thee, 0, child, 
And daughter grand of kings ! 

The touch of human fear, 
The kingly coming brings ? 

Or that late prophecy ? 

But soft ! a cloud of peace — 
A tender halo round — 

Her very heart-beats cease. 

She folds a little now 

More close her Babe, and sings 
Magnificat They hear, 

Those happy, nearing kings. 



! ' 



■* 



— -* 

KING-DAY. 169 

The feet of kiDgs are on 

The little Nazareth floor — 
The knees of kings are bent, 

The King-Babe to adore — 

Uncrowned — prostrate — 

Swept to the very floor, 
Or as the lofty bow — 

As kings know to adore. 

They kiss His precious robe, 

They kiss His precious feet, 
They look upon His face, 

In sleep so mystic sweet. 

From out His human sleep, 

The God-Babe lifts His eyes, 
And evermore on heart — 

And limb, His capture lies. 

He gravely lifts — the Babe — 

The Blessed Babe ! His eyes, 
Their hearts are taken with 

A dear, divine surprise. 

The sacks of spices lie ; 

The little pot of myrrh — 
To Mary for her Son — 

The treasures offered her, 

On sainted Anna's floor — 

Her. pure soul rest most sweet ! — 
The opened caskets pour 

At Mary's sacred feet — 



•* 



170 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The bag of gold, the box 

An Eastern perfume sheds : 
The smoke of censers round 

Jesus and Mary's heads. 

0, happiest kings ! to offer first 

The incense unto Him, 
And in your low, sweet pagan tongues 

To sing your worship-hymn. 

{Night — by the well of the hamlet below.') 

At Nazareth-well that night, 

Without the hamlet-gate, 
What mean the crowd to draw, 

Or rather come to wait? 

(J. hewer of stone in the mountains just arrived.) 
Hewer. 

Has any one been drowned 

Upon the lake to-day, 
Or some tax-eater, new 

From Cassar, lost his way ? 

Fisherman. 
So faithful for the master, 

Knave, did chip the stone, 
You never saw the kings 

That through the valley shone ? 

' You never saw ! ' You jest ! 
Or I'm no Nazarene, 
But there passed up a show 
The bravest ever seen ! 

* : 



— _ * 

KING-DAY. 171 

2d Fisherman. 
And in their midst a king — 

The Lord our God, befriend ! 
The camels and the men, 

I thought would never end. 

1st Fisherman. 

Nay, now. I saw it was 

A cavalcade of kings, 
And every man a king ; 

And must on magic wings 

Been wafted o'er the sands 

Of Araby and Persia ; 
The very street they passed 

Was perfumed so with cassia. 

2d Fisherman. 
The kings were one; but one; 

I made the others 
Who rode in golden vests 

Beside, his brothers. 

1st Fisherman. 
You made ! their visages ! 

Ha ! ha ! — the swarth — the white ! 
Their spears of different shape ! 

Which wore the crown most bright ? 

2d Fisherman. 
Now, Gad, if on thy face, 

Thou hadst been proper down, 
Thou never wouldst have seen 

But one king with a crown. 

£ 



* - * 

172 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

1st Fisherman. 
An' which ? — I leave the jest, 

In sooth, uncomely here, 
While on our honored Hill 

The royal tents appear. 

2d Fisherman. 
To-morrow we may look 

To see them in the town ; 
There's nothiDg on the Hill ; 

Th' city '11 bring them down. 

And so they pleasant talked, 

As rustic neighbors will, 
And strained their eyes upon 

The strangely-favored Hill. 

And marveled all the eve 

Ufou the village lawn, 
And gave those wondrous kings 

Their earliest thoughts at dawn. 

Aye, watched the morrow go, 

The day that brought not down 
From off the honored Hill, 

The men that wore the crown. 

Jesus Giving the Kings Audience. 

The Hill : Three crowns off-laid 

On Mary's lap — just on 
The dear Babe's robe of white, 

Her eyes, sweet muse upon,— 

* . ^ 



KING-DAY. 17; 

Drift off, in tender haze — 

Wide realms afar she sees — 
The first fruit but of thrones, 

These kings upon their knees 

The king of Araby was old, 

As polar flakes his hair, 
Of sedate, royal look — 

The Persian prince was fair : 

The dark king of the Ind — 

Euphrates lord — whose glance 
Was as his haste — was as 

The lightning of his lance. 

The number of the kings 

That kneel, that mystic three : 
St. Joseph meditates 

Upon the Trinity. 

The pomp of rule — the pride — 

The enemy's defeat — 
Ah, how these human things 

Are faded at His Feet! 

What calm, interior lights, 

What thoughts from Jesus' breast, 

What depths of dovelike peace — 
What sweet, imparadising rest. 

Three blessed days tbey sat 

At Blessed Jesus' Feet 
And every eve and morn 

Burned incense sweet. 



■* 



■* 



174 THE SAINT OF NAZAUETII. 

Three blessed nights their tents 
In Nazareth's dear yards, green — 

Th' little lawns round Mary"s cot — 
Their evening tents were seen. 

They never might have left, 

Those grand, Christ-captured kiugs, 

I think, but as they slept, 
They heard an angel's wings. 

And in their dreams were shown 

Their feet should haste to go, 
Nor let the wily Herod 

Such Heavenly secret know. 

Our kings — they fell once more 

Before the mystic Child, 
And gathering up their tents 

Struck for the desert wild. 

The bright beam of the moon 

Falls on the parting spear — 
While yet, tis evening hour, 

The long lines disappear. 

" There is something exotic in the beauty of this whole mys- 
tery. It reads in St. Matthew like a foreign legend ... It 
seems to float over the Sacred Infancy like an unchained cloud, 
that anchors itself with breathless, sunnv calm for a while and 
then sails off, or melts into the blue." — Faber. 

This visit had been a great help, too, to our Saint. He had 
nil along had such a suppressed desire to see the Child gener- 
ously acknowledged. The kings had edified him by their mag- 
nificence, by the wisdom of their words and more by their wor- 



■* 



■* 



KING -DAY. 175 

ship of the Child. Their crowns and their offerings at His Feet 
just suited Joseph. It looked as if the world were coming to 
Him. It looked so suitable for an Infant God; and they had 
shown Mary great respect, which delighted Joseph very much. 
They had also shown him very kind and great respect. But with 
a holy jealousy of his guardianship, he had staid very close hy 
Mary and the Child. He could hardly tell whether he the more 
regretted, or was the more relieved, to have the beautiful pageant 
pass. 

(SV. Joseph sleeping on a mat before the door of Marys 
chamber ) 

Soft slept the Saviour Child, 

On Mary's lovely arm ; 
The Hill was in the night, 

When nature took alarm. 

The bird that all night sings 

Is mute upon the Hill — 
The very stars move slow — 

The lowest wind is still ; 

And Joseph dreamed it rained, — 
The rain was blood ; — a shower 

That swept the land : it was 
About the midnight hour. 

And as be saw, there stood 

One by, still he refrained 
To ask, and waited from 

The Lord, the sign explained. 

•■ And the angel of the Lord said, Arise and take the young child 
and his mother and fee into Egypt. 1 ' 



■* 



176 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Saint Joseph knows the voice 

Of angel Raphael, 
As blessed Mary knows 

The face of Gabriel . 

And rising up in fear 

And in so great dismay, 
He girths the ass and bears his spouse 

And the dear Babe away. 

" St. Joseph, saviour of the Saviour of Mankind, tray 

for us !" 

The night was dark and tranquil over the little town of Naza- 
reth when Joseph went forth. Mary took up her treasure as He 
slept and went forth with Joseph . . . Here and there the night 
winds stirred in the palms ; now and then a watch-dog bayed, 
not because he heard them, but from the mere natural restless- 
ness of animals." " As Jesus came like a God, He went like a 
God, unnoticed." — Mary at the Foot of the Cross. 

Tub Wonderment of the Nazareth-folk — Continued. 

Three days all Nazareth naught 

Could do but watch the Hill, 
While hovered o'er the top, 

Those white tents pitched and still. 

But in the night they passed : 

They saw by morning light, 
The caravan of kings 

Had taken sudden flight. 

In wonder, to the Hill, 

They hasten to inquire ; 
Where is the mother and 

The Babe — the peaceful sire ? 



*< 



■** 



KING-DAY. 177 



Gone ! all is ominous ! 

Divested stands and still 
The little House this morn 

Upon the lonely Hill. 

And as they trembling search 

Throughout the house, the shop- 
In on their frightened sight, 
The fiends of Herod drop : 

Their swords, the blades are red 
And brandished still to slay : 
' The mother and the Babe 
Are not at home to-day.' 

The simple villagers, 

Alarmed with fears confess, 
Their beauteous Flower has gone ; 

Already slain, they guess. 

Unless those wandering kings 

Have spirited away ; 
That they were here and gone, 

Is all that they can say. 

Frightened Salome hides 
Within the garden tomb 

Her little son, and thus 
Evades the bloody doom. 

Her tender babe she gives 

To holy Anna's care — 
The furious soldiers search 

All spots — only not there. 



■* 



* 



178 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

They slay and go — seven babes 
The bleeding hamlet walls, 

Or seven new cherubs sing ; 
Sweeter than nightingales. 

0, children-saints ye have 
The easier guerdon won ; 

For sterner martyrdom 
Is saved Salome's son.* 



BEARING GOD TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. 

UNDER the lonesome stars, 
Under the glaring sun, 
Into the frightful mountains 
Glides the pale Virgin on. 

Whether by day "under 

The still afternoon sun,^ 
A wild-bird stirs the bush, 

Or the timid rabbits run. 

Whether by night the prowl 
And stealthy wild beasts tread, 

Her heart of woman is 

Filled with all human dread. 



* James the son of Zebedee, afterward apostle of our Lord. 
t A paraphrase from a page of "Mary at the Foot of the Cross.''' 



- * 

BEARING GOD TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. 179 

For men to ignore — to 

Deprecate — misapprehend 
Jesus, it would have been 

A sorrow without end ; 

But for them to begin — 

And the vision is long — 
To hate the hateless Child 

And on His track to throng 
Like wolves for blood, it is 

A sore thorn iu her heart — 
A life-long thorn and pain, 

That may never depart — 

Never with life. He has 
Done what, but at them look 
With His sweet Face? and they 
Cannot His sweetness brook ; 
And before He can walk 

They must make Him to fly. 
The truth is they cannot 

Bear such sweet goodness by. 

She had made up her mind 

For such a sacrifice, 
Even the beautiful Babe 

That in her bosom lies. 
She was going to give 

Him for them — and she had 
Virtually done it now ; 

Oh, ingratitude sad ! 



■* 



180 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Oh ! why should they pierce 

The veils of His clay, 
And hunt His dear steps 

Like lynxes for prey ? 
In that Infant scabbard 

Of flesh, wondrous sheathing 
The glows of God, only 

Such sweetness is breathing. 

Beautiful ! beautiful Child ! 

Was there ever anything 
So hateless and so fair 

As the little Saviour King ? 
Flitting away like a speck 

On the wind of the wild, 
Out of the sight of His own 

And loved so long, sweet Child? 

The Desert — a path so trodden by the mystics — 

And that rare word-painter, Faber, has been 

Along, too, so late, we may not attempt 

To depict. Every stunted palm overhanging 

Its lone well, every line of thorny shrubs 

Over " the dewless sands," " along the grooves 

Filled with stones where no streams run," has been 

So well depicted, that we will select 

But a few bits, already sweet-painted 

As our mosaics; just to keep in sight 

The dear " path of these holy iugitives 

Bearing away God to a place of safety." 

The vast lonesomeness, the proud sterility, 

The thirsting winds, unclothed desert-scenery, 



BEARING GOD TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. 181 

Nature in her nakedness, where the hand 
Of man was never laid on her mane to tame 
Her wildness — the breath of art never blown, 
May leave a silent picture only in our hearts 
As wc press on after the pale mother : 

" It is a weary plain which stretches out before us, . . . and 
tawny as a lion's hide." — "Two creatures are flying across this 
wilderness, invisible satellites far behind, hunting the Creator to 
His death, but baffled by a woman's speed, to whose feet a 
mother's love, which is also a creature's worship, has given, 
wings." .... " Two creatures had carried the Creator into the 
wilderness and were taking care of Him there. Sunrise and 
sunset, the glittering noon and the purple midnight, the ro md 
moon and the colored haze, came to them in the desert for many 
a day, still they traveled on." 

" Under the shadow of a cliff which lies so low that afar oft' 
the eye would look over it without suspecting the undulation in, 
which it lies, there is a crystal well, a spring of modest volume., 
and separate spikes of green stand up like miniature palisades in. 
the sand, and some desert-haunting plants with brittle, fleshly 
stalks, grow near, and in the cool shade Joseph is resting. The 
shade of the Eternal Father has grown even yet deeper upon 
Joseph, and somehow, if we dare to depict it so, the grace of 
maternity sits more gravely upon Mary's brow. The Child vis- 
ably understands it all, but is mysterious and holds its peace. 
The bird of prey that is floating over Him like a spot of gold, 
-truck by the sunset in the air is as large and seems the more 
rightful master of the place." 

Is it an eagle over that picture, 

Or angel? That bird always troubles 

Us. Had it not better have been an angel ? 

If a bird of prey, what is it there for? 

"It is a desolate spot remote from the caravans. It is the 
dead of night, but . . . the wilderness has many voices. It 
would puzzle us to know where they come from, but they do- 
come, sad, moaning, inarticulate. Is it the wind grating on the- 
sands? Is it the sobbing of the reedy springs? Is it the clefts 
of the rocks that make organs for the winds ? . . . Or is it the 
joints of the great world that are creaking in the silent night 

1G 



'*-.* 



*• 



182 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

like a distant tramp of men walking upon snow ? It is a strange 
Lullaby. . . The moon shines clown upon the group. All three are 
sleeping. God is sleeping between His two chosen creatures. 
"Who then is watching in the bright darkness of the upper air? 
We feel a Watcher t ) whom our words dare not give any form.'' 

One more penciling from the fair artist 
Who never forgot the great Saint Joseph. 

" It is bright morning. The day is fairly advanced. The In- 
fant is being changed from Mary's aims to Joseph's. It is but 
an incident of the journey, j r et it is also a mystery. Mary is 
without her Babe. Joseph is bearing the Babe and has grown 
now so vivid a shadow of the Eternal Father that he almost 
startles us into worship. The immense Word filleth the whole 
Bosom of the Eternal Father. He nestles well in one corner 
now of Joseph's bosom. Behind him, visible only in uncertain 
aerial outlines, follows a procession — a pageant of grand and 
gorgeous apparitions, at which we gaze in breathless awe. It is 
the historical priesthood of the whole long-enduring Church, up 
to the last ordination before the day of doom and the young 
priest who will have but one Mass to say. Popes are there with 
their meek faces overshadowed by the tiaras, Bishops whose 
countenances beam with masculine holiness, looks of paternal 
softness unbending the austere lines of science on their brows. 
Priests, also, men of manifold gifts, fountains of sacred light 
sparkling with the strange inventions of self-crucifying charity, 
hearts large as oceans, men who knew how to multiply their lives 
a hundred times for souls, the diversity of whose eloquent linea- 
ments, silently speaking as many tongues of love as if they were 
the sisters of souls rather than their rulers — all of these, with 
countless pure-faced Levitesand youthful ministers, beautiful in 
boyish chastity, mingling the impulses of a free, graceful artless- 
ness with the self-controlling happiness of a downcast, bashful 
mien — all these are shadowly following Joseph, as if they were 
his own shadow variously multiplied, while he bears the Infant 
in his arms. . . The face of Jesus looks the meaning of it all, 
but is as silent in His swaddling clothes as the Blessed Sacrament 
upon the corporeal." 

Another desert-pageant — or part — told 
By a poet at Notre Dame — our Ind. land 
Of Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin — 



*■ 



■* 



BEARING GOD TO A PLACE OP SAFETY. 183 

Our book grows fast; but we must fain have 
Tli is one more legend-illuminating for th' path 
Of this leader of priests. After that line 
Of shadowy priests following Joseph, 
Its vases in the hands of the angels 
Will gleam as sanctuary vessels. 



Tlie noon-day hour: ' beneath a low-bowed palm 

A venerable man stood leaning on 

His pilgrim-staff;' with patriarchal calm 

And love angelic, gazing ardent down, 

His seer-rapt eyes, some trancing vision own. 

Reclining by the tree his children seem : 

A m iiden radiant as the glowing sun 

Which flows through palm leaves pure of torrid gleam, 

A Babe, the other, round whose brow haloes beam." 

Save where they rest beneath that friendly palm ; 
Nor green plant springs, nor living creature strays, 
On all the vast horizon ; breathless calm 
Broods o'er the fervent plain, no breeze, no cooling balm." 
-;•:-***-:■:-*-:•.• 
" Sleep came gently on 
The aged man, sunk in the grassy sod ; 
While as a mother on her only son, 
Yet as a seraph before the living God, 
And still as martyr-saint when falls the rod, 
So on the Babe, the maiden's fair light smiled, 

Then set in slumber." 

" The hymn 

Of Heaven's spirits dies, where deep blue tints 
The sky ; but now I heard ! and yet they swim 
The nether-wave where flash the plumes of seraphim. 

The Virgin's eyes scarce oped, then closed again, 

As loth to lose their own sweet vision yet ; 

But while the faithful Joseph heard amen 

Responded still where angel-choirs had set 

Their tunes of praise and harp and coronet 

And heavenly plumage gloried on the skies — 

While on the dear ones fell his lashes wet, 

The radiant mother oped her ej'es 

Once more and gazed with raptured love upon her prize." 



'* 



184 THE SAINT OP NAZARETH. 

" ' Still with me, darling, still, my darling mine ! 
Ah, yes, my Babe, Thy pain, my grief must come ; 
Yet would I not, (forgive, dear Lord, Divine !) 
That Thou hadst gone unto thy Hearenly home 
And left the world a-cold where I must roam 
Too long without Thee.' — ' I have seen, 
Dear spouse, most wondrous vision, joy and gloom 
Relieving ; and the Lord hath given to gleam 
Most hidden knowledge — Lo ! the sign, here God hath been ! ' ' 

Upon the living turf beside them was 
A feast out-spread, unnoted when or whence 
It came ; the cloth, soft, snow-white on the grass 
While ruby vases bearing manna-bread, intense 
Flamed o'er the lint and wines blushed glad through dense 
Rock crystal ; cool, ripe strawberries heaped in cones 
Their siivery baskets ; creamy pitchers thence 
Took crimson ; sweets were there that orient owns, 
Choice fruits and tankards whence the oozing water runs. 
Renewed in body as in spirit erst, 
The Holy Family gave thanks : the Child, 
Sweefc-smiling from His mother passed at first 
To Joseph, then to fragrant rose leaves piled 
By lovely angels — once He turned and smiled 
As longing rather her, than rest, or sleep. 
But nature soothed His lids and soft beguiled 
Te needful bliss, while Mary and Joseph keep 
Their watch, and love and care and stillness o'er them creep. 
R..V. Howard — Ave Maria, Vol. 11. 

And yet, as they were passing another day — 

{Legend of the strange Hunter* completed) 

Through a wood extensive and old and full 

Of dens as trees, a hunter crossed their path, — 

A man who might be wild, so strange he seemed — 

His coat of skins — but for his spear, a blade 

That glittered in the sun that straggling shot 

In through the hoary trees as he strode past — 

Mary within her bosom close concealed 

The Babe, and Joseph nearer Mary drew. 

They were alarmed, though nothing followed, 

*Orsiui's Life of the Blessed Virgin. 



.«« 



' ! *i 

BEARING GOD TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. 185 

And for days they saw him not again ; 

Yet that some one hovered on their path they knew ; 

For oft at times was heard a stealthly step, 

Th' snapping of a twig, th' rustle of a brake : 

Why presses that lone hunter on their track ? 

The heart of Mary, timid woman, is afraid. 

And Joseph changes often as the step is heard 

To walk betwixt the danger and his charge, 

While day and night, for Mary and the Child, 

He prays. — The creature prays for the Creator, 

The dependent for the Omnipotent. 

Still followed by that unknown man ; a day 

They heard him not, they just began to lose 

Their fear when that pursuing step again 

Would break upon their watchful ear, until 

At length one day, entangled in a wood — 

The wood was deep, the track was lost, and long 

They wandered in the wilderness, its thread 

To find ; the bread, the water in the sack 

Was gone; the ass exhausted sank ; the heart 

Of Joseph felt that it must fail; Mary, 

Her white lips for water thirsting, sat pale 

And languid on the ground; and the dear Child 

Lay like a smitten flower upon her lap ; 

That tread ! Joseph can only now commit 

His treasures unto God and pray, while stalks 

From the depths of the wood, that same strange man ; 

Draws on and hesitates, — again draws on : 

Saint Joseph makes an offering of his life 

To God ; but prays for clemency for Mary 

And the Child ; when to his joy he perceives 

Th' man bears but a cup of water in his hand, 



.* 



* — . >£♦ 

186 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Aud has knelt where Mary sits desolate 

Upon the ground to proffer her the cup ; 

A smile glorifies her pale lips ; but first 

She bends above the fainting Child to give 

Him drink, and the Babe, grave, while very sweet, 

Lifts His eyes upon the man who had brought 

The cup of water unto His mother 

And Him, before he tastes; and the man bowed 

Unto the ground when the Babe looked 

Upon him, and Mary smiled as Mary 

Only could smile ; and th' Child having revived, 

She tasted the cup while Joseph looked on 

And said in his heart, I have wronged the man, 

And he may be an angel ; angels used 

To appear unto the patriarchs as men ; 

And while he yet wondered, the strange man brought 

Water also unto him, and he drank ; 

And then the man whose face they did not see, 

For lie was disguised, which, too, made Joseph 

Esteem him to be an angel, opened 

A bag that he bore about his girdle 

And laid before them dried berries and bread ; 

Such as he had, and when they were refreshed 

He guided them from out the wilderness, 

And went before and lead them through Egypt 

To a city where the Jews had a colony. 

And all the time the man showed not his face ; 

And neither had he spoken, but he furnished 

Bread and led them by the nearest paths 

Until they came to the city, when he made 

To turn back ; whereupon Joseph offered 

Unto him of the treasures which he carried 



*■ 



BEAMING GOD TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. 187 

Upon the white ass — for he had no gold 

To proffer the man ; upon the borders 

Of Judea he had parted with the gold, 

When he would enter the desert and thought 

To purchase a beast whereon he might ride. 

He had concealed the Mother and the Child 

In a little wood that was adjoining, 

And ventured to approach toward the city, 

No soldiers being seen. Without the gates 

There was a watering-place where was traffic : 

He thought to buy for himself a beast here ; 

But there were gathered impotent folk, 

A great number in a crowd, lame and blind 

And that had divers ills ; such of the poor 

As had no friends and were unprovided : 

And when these poor folk saw that Joseph had 

A bag such as the rich carried moneys in, 

And was a benevolent-looking man, 

They gathered around him and clamored 

For the gold, and besought him in the name 

Of the Messiah whom they expected, 

And Joseph gave th' gold. The poor always took 

Advantage of Joseph. For his reward 

He had to walk all the way to Egypt ; 

And I presume the angels accompanying 

Thought it a beautiful reward. I presume 

That to him to-day in heaven it seems 

A beautiful one, too, and that he is grateful 

That God did not lessen one step of th' long 

And tiresome way. There was yet a casket 

Of jewels and the myrrh and the spices 

He had left with Mary ; and to return 



■* 



188 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

To our little party, Joseph offered 

Of their treasures, to divide, with the man 

Who had befriended them ; but th' man, 

Of the spices or the jewels would not receive; 

But of the myrrh he took a small bundle 

And put it in his bosom, and then he wept 

And abruptly departed ; but he went 

But a little way, when he turned back. 

Mary sat upon a stone by the wayside : 

Being, as she thought, alone with Joseph, 

Her veil was put back and her tenderness 

And beauty, transcending, shone forth. The Child 

Lay upon her lap : and the man came back 

And prostrated himself and adored th' Child ; 

And after he had adored a long time, 

He raised his head from the ground and lifted 

His eyes upon Mary, and uncovered 

His countenance and removed the disguise. 

It was Agabus, and his face was worn 

And pale as of one who had seen sorrow ; 

And he spoke not and there was a tear 

In the eye of Mary, though a sweet calm 

In her face. 

And having adored the Child 
And kissed the hem of His blanket and the hem 
Of the mantle of Mary and of the .mantle 
Of Joseph, Agabus departed, and they saw 
Him no more, for he returned to the wood 
In which they had been lost and abode there ; 
Yet knew while they remained in Egypt, 
And learned when they returned unto Judea ; 
And heard, moreover, after many years, 



■** 



— — — -* 

BEARING GOD TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. 189 

Of th' preaching of Jesus and his miracles ; 
And after that Jesus was crucified, 
Sought out His disciples, and believing, 
He was baptized by St. James, at that time 
Bishop of Jerusalem. No one might love 
Mary unrequited ; so was faith given 
To Agabus, No one may love Mary, 
Even not comprehending her, unrewarded ; 
And Mary within the breast of no man, 
Ever woke any passion but the love 
Of virtue. The countenance of Mary, 
Its beauty, never inspired any love, 
But the love of holiness, angelic face ! 
All stood in presence of Mary growing 
More chaste; all went from Mary more pure, 
Agabus loved Mary, and he was drawn 
To her only among women ; though he knew 
Not why, till as he adored at her feet, 
It was revealed to him who that Child was. 
Ah, Agabus was not thy sole lover, 
Sweet mistress of all holy mens' hearts, 
Lady of the Priests, Virginal Empress, 
Mother of our Lord and sister of mankind, 
All thy holy brothers love thee, Mary, 
And thy sisters, too, worship thee, Mary, 
Beautiful is the love of woman for woman ! 
' Bare? ' Yes, perhaps there is not anything 
In this world more like the loves of the angels — 
" The object of womens praise" — Generations 
Bless thee — thy sons and thy daughters — Lady 
Of our race, mother, sister, earth's one pearl, 
Mary our Mother, our Queen and our Friend. 



*■ 



H* 




♦J*" 



*■ 




6jggph 



Saint Joseph and His Family ui>on the Nile. 



"What are those white walls which are laved hy the flood 
when it is out, but otherwise rise out of that luxuriant green 
plat of densest herbage sward so inveterate green that it seems 
proof almost against the scorching of the Egyptian sun ? It is 
Heliopolis. ' ' — Bethlehem. 




[GABUS, having departed, Mary 
Suckles her Babe under a tree not far 
From the gates: Joseph leans upon his staff 
Meditating : ' This is Egypt.' ' There's th' Nile, 
Lapsing like a dream through this old pagan land. 
There are the sandy wilds,' ' the rich loam fields, 
That the inundation annually renew,' 
' How little they know Almighty God has sent 
His Son to them.' ' There are the pyramids, 
Egypt's former greatness — her future greatness — 
The Babe that rests upon His mother's knee.' 



Mary having finished suckling the Child 
Under the tree, pointed out to this day, 
Joseph made a prayer at the gate that God 
Would prepare the way, and the three went in 
Under a tree at the gate, all who entered 



•M 



192 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Must go in under — and the tree bowed down ; 

But Saint Joseph was not astonished 

A tree should bow when the Infant Jesus 

Honored it so much^as to pass under its boughs : 

That same moment th' multitudes in th' streets 

Stood still. It was called an earthquake. 

It was only that Child coming through the gate. 

'• It is the evening of a pagan holyday and the streets are full 
of the people. A fearful, dubious rumor has gone forth . . . the 
multitude sways uncertainly and then rolls onward to the tem- 
ples in waves and waves of men . . . As the sun was sloping, 
while the lanterns were just being lit, while the incense was 
smoking tranquilly before the idols, and the sacred doves were 
settling themselves to roost in the palm trees of the outer courts, 
the images of the gods fell without warning from their base with 
a hideous crash and are lying mutilated and in fragments on the 
ground." — Faber. 

J'And the false gods fell down moaning 
Each from off his golden scat — 
All the false gods with a cry 
Rendered up their deity — 

Pan — Pan is dead ! " 



'And the hoarse, deep-throated ages, 
Laugh your godship into scorn — 
And the poets do disclaim you, 
Or grow colder if they name you," 



'Get to dust as common mortals, 

By a common doom and track, 

Let no Schillar from the portals 

Of that Hades call you back." 



"Or instruct us to weep all 
At your antique funeral pall." 



'We will weep not . . . earth shall roll 
Heir to each gods aureole."' 



*♦■ 



EGYPT. 193 



'•Earth outgrows her mystic fancies 
Sang beside her in her youth, 
And those debonair romances 

Sound but dull beside the truth.' ' 

"Lookup Godward ! " 

" Pan — Pan is dead ! " 
"His sole Godhead stands complete." — Mrs. Browning. 

•• All the images in the whole land had fallen upon their faces." 
Orsint. 

■' There was hardly a breath to set a broad plane leaf turning 
on its little unwieldy pivot. What omen is this? ... On such 
a day . . . "When every town of Egypt, the ports of the Nile 
mouth, the dwellers above the cataracts, even the peasants from 
the distant oasis had gathered in the sanctuary of the sun." . . . 
"Through streets silent, vacant, in the rear of the multitudes 
who have rushed to the temples, Mary clasping to her bosom her 
slumbering Chiid, follows Joseph faintly and weariedly to the 
village khan." — Faber. 

Now a man observes them, who is a Jew, 
And seeing our strangers are Galileeans, makes 
Them welcome and invites them to his house: 
He was from the same province. They follow 
The man and go by the idolatrous temples. 
Crowds are pressing in where the idols lie, 
The people gazing on their demolished gods 
In a stupor. Some of these coining out, 
Meet now face to face the strange Child. " Strangers 
Are no strangers in this Heliopolis," 
"Yet that timid mother and her Child draw 
All eyes." " Something more than beauty overflows 
The countenance of the Child." " Every one 
Looks up and follows them with his look 
So long as they are in sight." " The mother 
Instinctively folds Him to her bosom, 
As if they were going to rob her of Him." 

IT 
II .i.i » 



F4 * fr 

194 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And " when it is truly, and she knows 

It is only the fierceness of their admiration 

That lights so sharp their swarthy visages." 

Now they turn into a street away from the crowds ; 

Asa, the man, conducting our travelers, 

Lead them on through several narrow streets 

Of " quaint bazars in an alley of high walls" 

In that part of the city where the Jews dwelt; 

Then in a dim street " with buildings so tall 

The sun only lighted it in its meridian : " 

Here was his home ; and his wife, named Lydia, 

Met them in the first court and saluted 

Them. Lydia embraced Mary and taking 

Her Babe in her arms, carried Him within 

With gladness into her house. She had hid 

But one child, a little son that had died 

Soon after he was circumcised, and her heart 

Was tender since toward young children. She laid 

Her face to the cheek of the Babe and kissed 

It, and made Mary welcome, and hastened 

Much to make her very comfortable. 

Lydia is preparing supper for these strangers ; 

Asa and Joseph are conversing in the porch 

Of the house, and the Babe lies tranquilly 

In Mary's arms. He is just a year old 

To-night. Mary is comparing Bethlehem 

And Heliopolis — the cave and Asa's house : 

The Babe looks steadfastly in her face 

And Mary knows that He knows her thoughts 

The two faces hold a colloquy : angels, 

Two or three, stand unobserved by the lattice : 

And in due time from this night Lydia 

* 4> 



EGYPT. 195 

Had another child born. It was a daughter 

And she called its name Mary. She became 

A very holy woman, and had the honor 

Of being th' first child named for th' Blessed Virgin. 

Asa, who was a carpenter, pressed 

Joseph much to abide with him ; for the heart 

Both of the husband and the wife clave 

To these holy strangers, and he offered 

Jo.-eph a part of the work that should come 

To him. But Joseph, knowing that the man 

Was poor, and, as himself, a foreigner, 

And that for two work sufficient might not fall 

To hand in the same neighborhood, yearning 

To dwell, moreover, apart solitarily 

With Mary and Jesus, thanked this kind man, 

But the day after he came leased a house 

For himself. It was but a poor tenement, 

But in a retired spot and adjoining, 

Or nigh to the temple or the synagogue 

Of the Jews — within its alley or rear. 

Tradition says this house was conical 

Or shaped like a bee-hive, and here Joseph 

And Mary dwelt while they lived in Egypt. 

The day after they had taken possession 

Was th' Sabbath. Joseph and Mary repaired 

With joy once more to the synagogue — 

'• Sweet oasis in that strange, heathen-land ! " 
Mary carried Jesus in her arms to church. 

" Mmy mothers who saw the new worshippers 
Euvied that mother her beautiful child." 



Joseph, glad for escapement from Herod, 



■* 



*• 



196 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And from the perils of the wilderness 

And the desert, and at all times zealous 

For the adornment of God's house, carried 

The most precious gems of the casket — pearls 

Of price — each ruby " a cup of the sun" — 

That Mary had kept, and these, presented, 

As a thank-offering for himself and his spouse ; 

And all they of the synagogue looked kindly 

Upon the new family. Saint Joseph 

And the Blessed Virgin adored devoutly 

And returned to the little bee-hive house, 

Very happy. How could they be otherwise 

And have Jesus with them ? — saved — that long 

And frightful journey of the desert ended. 

But when the poor learned Joseph had jewels — 

From the present he had made ; it was told ; 

For there were not any other precious stones 

Like unto in this temple, and the temple 

At Hcliopolis was adorned very much* 

It was not many days before they flocked 

To the house where Joseph dwelt, and Joseph 

And Mary when they saw their poverty 

And their distress, gave unto them meanwhile 

Till they had no more jewels remaining. 

And when this little family lacked food, 

Joseph took of the bundles of the myrrh 

And the spices and sold them for as much 

As they would bring, that he might provide bread, 

And to buy tools with which he might work ; 

And when the silver was gone he received 

* Josephus. 



EGYPT. 



1 

197 



For the myrrh and for the frankincense — left 
Of that which the kings used in their homage: 
For they burned much of it before Jesus — 
Then Joseph prayed and still sought for work ; 
And after some days found some that he brought 
Home to do: and, he wrought as iu Nazareth, 
For the daily bread of his dear family ; 
And such time as he would rest from labor, 
Would instruct some of the poorer people, 
Among the Egyptians that came to his house. 
Like some choice " flower in a new climate, 
Giving out new color and new odor ; " 
Venerable, first apostle of Jesus ! 
He becomes like a doctor or missionary ; 
In his piety and great zeal " he converted 
Many poor idolaters of the neighborhood." 
We love to think of Saint Joseph's work 
In Egypt. The converts were all enrolled 
In the synagogue where Joseph worshiped 
And became worshipers of the one true God. 

Contemplate Jos?ph teaching his Egyptians 

In a retired corner of his sweet porch. 

St'e those " swarth, earnest faces" gazing up 

Into the most benevolent countenance 

Of Joseph as he expounds. Then, Mary 

Passes by on some domestic errand, 

Saint Joseph and his scholars — "every eye 

Lights up" — " the very glimpse of Mary's gown 

Passing in and out is a devotion 

For these converts." " When the Child is older, 

He has Him with him," dear foster-father! 

17* 



*fr * 

108 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Whilo he gives his lessons of piety. 

Both to those that had come uuto him first 

And others, those first converted, brought in. 

The Child Jesus is seated on a mat 
Beside him upon the ground, or He lies 
His head upon the skirt of his father 
And sleeps while he gives his lesson to his dear pagans — 
That sleeping Child on Saint Joseph's skirt 
" A heaven as well to those poor Egyptians 
As to Joseph," "supernatural, royal Flower," 
Hourly giving out some fresh life and beauty — 
Fount of loveliness ! ineffable Jesus ! 

And while Joseph instructed these poor men 
That came unto him, Mary attended 
To her house — to all the family-cares, — ■ 
Adored the Child incessantly and found 
Time to spin for the Egyptian ladies, 
Fine purple threads for their embroideries, 
Which she did with such skill it was sought for. 

These heathen women that came to Mary 

Brought to her offerings sometimes of flowers : ' 

Some rare flowers, a little pot of sweetmeats, 

Or a garment for herself or for the Child. 

They would sit and watch the face of the Child, 

Such " a grave and tender fascination" 

It had for them, " till sometimes its beauty 

Was so reverent that it made their hearts 

Tremble too much." But then, that dear " likeness 

To Mary's face confused it with earthly things; " 

f 



EGYPT. 199 

And "just as it was growing too heavenly 
Enabled them to repose on its beauty " — 
Happy adorers ! adoring unconscious. 
These women compare the mother and Babe : 

il Behold, the little white lily is blooming below the greater 
one, an off-shoot of its stem and a faithful copy, leaf for leaf, 
petal for petal, white for white, powdered with the same golden 
dust, meeting the morning with the same fragrance, which is 
like none other than their own— God copying His own creature." 

Well might these women of Egypt hover 
Around these fair exotics, creation had 
Never so fair a sight to see before — 
God in a cradle — the little babe-God 
In the arms of its young human mother ; 

And the Child was esteemed, too, a precious pearl 
By the Jews among whom His parents dwelt 
And who regarded them though they lived 
Very secluded. Few of their neighbors 
Were familiar, they had so great a respect. 

Twilight on the Bank of the Nile. 

"It is the brief evening of Egypt." " The Nile glows like a 
glossy backed creature, swift, broad-backed and almost noiseless 
in the crimson sunset. Only at the edge the quick waters make 
the reeds twitter a little, except in the little earthy bays where 
the lotus-lily rises and falls at anchor just tremulous enough to 
shake its odor out upon the air like incense from the thurible. 
The Incarnate God is musing upon the bank; Mary withdrawn 
a stone throw from Him, as if she felt it was His will." — Fabek. 

" I behold in thee, God of my soul ! that thou hast no certain 
abode in this world ; I learn by thy example that thou wouldst 
not have me fix my heart upon those goods thou givest me." . . . 
" If I love thee, 6 Lord, I shall comprehend the secrets of thy 
conduct. Thou wilt have man, being a pilgrim on earth, to fly 
continually . . . and to sanctify his banishment by his patience 



*fa*~ 



200 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

and love of thee. Thou, perhaps, desirest also that I should 
neither be taken up with what I suffer, nor with what thou art 
to do with me; and that resigned to thy care, I should have no 
other than to live without any tie to earth, to serve thee faith- 
fully and to suffer myself to be guided in all things by thy provi- 
dence." — Father Thomas of Jesus. 

Worst spot upon earth, how Jesus pities 
Thee and flies to thee ! — rotteu in idolatries, 
Poor p ople ! you have His sweetest young years. 

" Why should I not hope in thee, O, ray God, when I see thee 
love sinners so effectually and come to abide with them . . . 
When I see thee so earnest in doing them good that when they 
persecute thee . . . Thou retirest not into Heaven where thou 
hast a peaceful abode and an infinite number of blessed spirits 
to adore, love and acknowledge thee for what thou art ; that tho t 
niest into Egypt because thou wilt purify by the breath of thy 
spirit that country corrupted by vice and idolatry that so many 
holy solitaries who were to come thither after thee and there 
live in the purity of thy love, might breathe in it the sweet air 
and odor of virtues which thou hast diffused therein . . . Yes. 
Lord, thou art wholly employed about us and our necessities. 
0, my God, even while thou seemest most at rest and while thou 
remainest there so quiet and unknown, thou plantest poverty of 
spirit, slight of honors, contempt of che world, silence, prayer, 
obedience, purity of heart, desire of heaven, relish of sufferings, 
holy simplicity, thy life of pure love and angelic chastity in a 
mortal body." — Father Thomas of Jeslts. 

Barbarous but blessed land where developes 

The prolific life of the child-Creator 

Who cannot refrain from creating still 

While lie remains with you. Who is preparing 

His soil for a future nursery for His Church — 

Where He will start plants for His Kingdom 

Of foliage and scent, no other garden of th' earth 

Might come near to. No earthly colors 

Were ever brilliant as the inner peta's 

Of the brave flowers that He will grow here. 



*• 



■* 



EGYPT. 201 

Land of the hermit's love, where the shy saints 
Have always found poverty they so affect, 
Exile they so cling to — hid holiness — 
"All that th' mystics so love" — Desert of Saints ! 
Thy solitary sands, why so alluring? 
So drawing to beautiful souls? My Lord's steps 
In His sweet Childhood walked this way and staid. 

" His mind's the Child's opens before us now as if a sanctuary 
were being unveiled, and it flows out of His eyes that are bent upon 
the stream. In the scarce audible murmur of the river he hears 
the cry that rang through Egypt in the night, that terrible night 
.it' the firstborn. It is as if the echoes of that wail had been 
undulating over the desert ever since. The tears gather in His 
eyes, for He thinks of Bethlehem, its mothers and its innocents.'' 
— Faber. 

"The voice of the blood which flowed from those little inno- 
cent bodies reached Him ; and His sacred humanity which saw 
all things in God, must have felt at the same time, the pain of 
all the children and that of all their mothers. ... It is true He 
was to recompense them abundantly some years after for the 
death they had undergone for Him by the crown of glory which 
He would merit for the*m ; but whatever He designed to do and 
suffer afterwards, did not diminish in Him the sentiment of com- 
passion with which He was penetrated through the natural good- 
ness of His heart." — Father Thomas of Jesus. 

"He hears now in the stillness . . . the tramp of countless 
hurrying feet . . . the children of Israel going forth in the 
darkness upon their exodus : " — " there is the exodus of a whole 
world to be accomplished, and it is He who must cleave the sea 
and how shall it be cloven ? The twilight deepens almost sud- 
denly, it is dark. The eyes of the Child have gone out in the 
darkness, and the wind arises, and the mist has gathered on the 
stream. Mary has knelt down and is looking with prescient 
anxiety into the face of the Child." — Faber. 

Joseph comes out and hastens to bring 
Them into the little house upon the bank. 

This same house ; one day the angels, leaning 
Over it from the serene zenith, said 



•* 



202 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

' The Eternal Child stands alone there ! ' 
Mary has suspended her wheel, Joseph 
Holds in his hand an adze and piece of wood, 

" Their eyes are fixed upon the Child who is 
Upon His feet" — upon th' ground, but " clinging 
To the lap of Mary's dress." He lets go 
The dress. A ray from the open window 
Comes and rests on the Head of the Child. 

" He stands trembling in the ray of the sunlight 
Like a strangely beautiful blossom" — stands ! 
Almighty God a little Child for the first time 
Stands upon th' earth He has created. Look 
At th' eyes of the mother and foster-father ! 

"An earthquake might rend Heliopolis now, 
And they not hear or feel." Beautiful Child ! 

Again, it is twilight in the little hive ; 
Joseph is standing by his carpenter's bench, 
Mary is seated near upon a low stool 
That she uses for a chair : her little Son 
Is knelt by her lap. Hush ! His eyes are raised 
And His Hands joined. He is saying a prayer 
After His mother, just like any child — 
God taught to worship God by a creature ! 
The Child Jesus saying Hia night prayer ! 
" Just like and unlike any other child " — 
God's child. The beautiful glow of ecstacy 
Is on Jesus' face and Mary's. Joseph 
Stands by his work-bench, looking on Mary 
And Jesus. Th' gLw is on Joseph's face, too 
Without all things stand in a grey haze. 
The little house is filled with a glow. 



*« 



EGYPT. 203 

A very clear and tender effulgence. 
TV ears of the two bad heard angelic choirs ; 
But they heard no such melody as this. 
Hush ! They are in the still air above, 
Listening to the prayer of this little Child 
At the knee of the Virgin Mary. 
Mary near Jesus is sustained — Joseph, 
" It almost calls his soul out of his body." 

There is an olden tradition that Jesus 

Made this speech when a year old, to Joseph : 

•■ My father, I am come from Heaven to be the light of the 
world, and as a good shepherd to seek and to know my sheep, 
and to give them the food of eternal life. I desire you both may 
become children of the light, since you are so near its source." 

' My father ! ' He called me, said Joseph. 
In his heart he had been for a long time 
Revolving whether it would be proper 
For him to call this Divine Child his Son. 

An Egypt noon. Th' Holy Family rest 
Under the shade of the trees in their grounds : 
The Holy Child " lies upon His Mother's lap, 
His look turned upward upou her face." 

a The incense of -the "whole creation is less to Him than the 
grateful homage of her fragrant love. . . . He nestles in it. . . . 
His bath is in that clean love. . . It is a jubilee to Him to have a 
creature whom he can be like." — Bethlehem. 

He is dearer to Mary and Mary is dearer 
To Him than one year ago. Joseph leans 
Upon a carpenter's reed in his hand : 
A year ago ! How fatigued he was that day 
From toiling over the sands of the desert : 



204 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

How weary the tender mother and Child. 
There has been a whole year of exile, 
He has not felt for the joy he has had 
With Jesus and Mary. He has saved the Child 
A whole year and he smiles — that serene smile 
Of Saint Joseph — Jesus observes him now : 
Joseph holds out his arms : the Divine Child 
Totters with pretty infantine eagerness, 
"As a little beam of light" aerost the sward, 
From His mother's arms to his. He lies now 
Upon his breast, supported by his arms ; 
He looks upon Saint Joseph ; " He disports 
In his strong arms; " in His grave, childish joy, 
He sits upon his knee ; He feels with his hand 
Of the snowy beard ; " He looks in his face 
With an infantine curiosity." At times 
Not wholly unmingled with awe. We have 
So often seen when His look has been fixed 
On Joseph. " No one ever saw so plain 
As that Child the shadow of the Father." 
The Child walks now : how holily the eyes 
Of Joseph follow the lovely footsteps 
Of that little Child on the smooth, worn sod 
Of that inveterate green around their house. 
The Eternal Child is now two years old. 

The Spring of Mary: 

A sort of ledge-way and natural spring 

In the rocky soil where some low bushes grew — 

Which is shown to this day, and the bushes 

On which she hung the little robes to dry 

In the sun. Tfow precious to our hearts, 



EGYPT. 205 

And we be Christians, the hill, a little rise 
Of land, covered with low, thorny thickets, 
Where Mary would come to wash in the morning 
In the cool, bubbling spring the swaddling clothes 
Of the Infant Jesus and hang them to dry ; 
And when He was grown and a little boy — 
Th' little boy-God — th' little tunics of Jesus, 
Always made of th' snowiest linens, never soiled, 
Yet Mary would wash them because mothers 
Washed for their children and she would wash, too, 
And be a mother, th' humblest and carefullest 
Among them in every sweet common sense. 
Snowy, soft, fine, fragrant, which is purest, 
The linen Jesus has worn, or Mary's hands? 
Mary's hands that were made to handle Him ! 

Meantime, while Mary washed the garments, 

Jesus sat by on one of the green banks around, 

Gravely watching His mother's operations 

At the spring. It is one of those mornings 

Seen nowhere else than upon the Nile. 

It is the morning before the Sabbath. 

Mary is washing the tunic of Jesus 

And a pocket-handkerchief for Joseph 

And herself, and some other things they will want 

Next day when they go to the synagogue. 

Mary would have everything very clean 

To appear in the house of God. 

Joseph 
Is busy at his bench while she is at work 
Upon the hill or knoll back of the house 
At the spring. 

18 



4 



* — * 

206 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

She has finished her work and come 
Back to her Child whom she had lain, meantime, 
Under a dwarf- tree that grew upon the spot. 
He has dropped asleep, as it seems. She kneels 
And looks into His face. " She never a moment 
Forgot what Child He was" " Kneeling by Him 
She saw something that we do not see," 
And " gathers Him up into her arms as mothers 
Da their infants, so softly they do not wake," 
And sits down under a tree by the spring 
For Him to sleep in her arms. 

As He slept 
She saw upon her lap a pure Fountain 
Where the leprous world could wash and be clean, 
And she saw many generations and peoples 
Coming up to her lap to draw from this Fountain ; 
And all they that drew were purified ; 
And the Fountain could not restrain itself, 
But flowed out and overflowed the whole earth ; 
And wherever as soon as it appeared, 
The unfruitful places began to break 
Into blossom as a garden filled with flowers ; 
And there leaned nearest the waters where they flowed 
Lilies of marvelous whiteness, and roses 
As drops of the Precious Blood. She shivered 
And smiled, then leaned to the flowers. They had all 
Sweetness as the waters that had watered the sand 
Where they sprang ; and innumerable angels 
Were plucking the flowers. Some were bending 
In admiration over the flowers before they plucked 
Them — others just severing the stems that shed 
In the air a sweetness as they were broken ; 

4< 4» 



EGYPT. 207 

Other angels were just arising from the earth 

With the flowers in their hands, that, as they sailed 

Up heavenward, sent back their fragrance sweeter 

And sweeter; and as she looked downward, the farther 

She looked the more the flowers and the angels 

Thickened ; and as she still leaned toward the flowers, 

She saw in each flower a human face, 

And each face was as the face of a saint ; 

Salome was there, Mary Cleophas, Anna, 

Joachim — and there was Joseph ! In rapture 

She who was always tranquil bowed her lips 

To the wave of the Fountain — she kissed the brow 

Of the Child. The Child opened those grave eyes — 

Those deep, mysterious eyes upon her. Sweet startled, 

She gathers Him up into the blanket 

Of her apron, goes to the bushes, gathers 

The little pieces that have dried in the sun 

And takes them with the Child into the house. 

Sweet spot of the Holy Infancy ! Pilgrims 
Come here to drink now and to pluck sweet leaves 
From the thorn-bushes where Mary's washiug hung. 

The House of Honey. 

Joseph's home that he has made in Egypt 
Is lovely : such as this old pagan land 
Has never before seen. It is transfigured 
Where Jesus, Mary and Joseph go, alway, 
Where they consent to dwell. It in Egypt, 
Is even so — " land of manifold evils 
And privations of exile." To Joseph 

* 



* 

208 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

It is Heaven where Jesus and Mary are; 

For Mary, to live with the Child Jesus 

And Joseph, enough Heaven upon this earth : 

Better than all places, or good without them two. 

They dwelt as in a hermitage in Egypt. 
Joseph's soul, having such objects to love, 
Grew lovely fast — and in how many ways ! 
He had to love that little Child in his house 
So many ways: Th' Prince of Peace to him come- 
The young Councilor, Mighty, of his own race 
Aud own Davidic line — from Joachim's house — 
From Mary's bosom — as sweet Mary's child — 
As the Child of the Holy Ghost, whom, also, 
As Mary's Supreme Spouse, he, too, represents, 
And is the shadow of upon the earth, 
As of the Eternal Father, the shadow ; 
As his God — for that fair human nature — 
" Because He was so winsome and attractive" — 
This wonderful and beautiful child-God — 
As the Messiah Child four thousand years 
Waited for — th' Prince Royal Branch of Jesse — 
His earthly and Heavenly King — th' Shiloh come- 
And added to, his love for one — so sweet a One — 
That he had saved from danger and from death ; 
But most because he stood as His father 
And God had given him a parent's love 
Befitting to the man who represented 
Him. Joseph loved Jesus as his dear child — 
His child encompassed with Divine perfections — 
As the Fruit of untranslateable beauty 
And sweetness of his virginal marriage. 



£ 

EGYPT. 20! » 

All of Joseph's thoughts grew with beauty 

His words of simple wisdom — every act — 

His very look grew evermore beautiful. 

The tall wall of Jasper that surrounded 

The Tower of Ivory and the Lovely Child, 

Grew each day, deep and wide and high and bright ; 

And Mary each day more loved her Protection ; 

And the more Mary esteemed Joseph, th' more 

His holy attachment grew for her ; all 

Of his sublime reasons for loving Jesus 

Mingled with his affection for Mary : 

And the Child from the Father loved them both 

More than they loved Him. Th' most luminous loves 

Of the earthly trinity are illuminated 
' ' By quivering beams that seem rather to belong 

To the inward life of th' Heavenly Trinity ; " 

By pulses of light " adorably communicated 

To that sweetest growth of creation " — 

The Holy Family. 

Little bee-hive house, 

How much honey of Paradise thou didst hold I 

The honey of the holy heart of Joseph — 

The honey of Mary's sweetest affections — 

Incomparable little bec-hive-shaped house, 

Thou didst hold all th' honey of humanity 

And the sweetest Honey of Heaven — Jesus. 
"Truly was On, or Heliopolis " now 

The " city of the sun," for the true sun 

Dwelt here. Bees, too, are th' figure of wisdom 

And of industry. What wisdom this house 

Contained and what sweet industry ; 

And hidden from all much observation, 

18* 

J4 » ■ » X * 



4 , * 

210 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

It stood upon a green bank of the Nile 

In th' neighborhood of some large nopal trees. 

The Foster-Father. 

When Mary took some of her spinning home. 

Or was occupied with care of her house, 

Then it was that Joseph would with grave joy 

Appropriate Jesus. So much he loved 

To tend Him. While still an Infant, 

He would steal away with Him by himself 

And sit upon the banks of the river 

For hours together : with Him in his arms 

He was supremely happy. He would sit 

Under the trees by the river and hum 

To the Child like any mother — holding 

Him against his large breast, sing low and soft 

To Jesus, which the Babe appeared to love 

Very much. How lovely It would cling 

A little more close to th' breast of Joseph. 

Joseph often wondered that he should sing, 

But somehow could not so help for his joy ; 

His foster-fatherhood so called it out ; 

And the Babe loved to hear him — so seemed. 

It was delicious to see Saint Joseph 

Under the trees by the flowing river — 

In the piazza of the little house — 

Holding Jesus and humming sweet tunes 

To Him, or in rich silence absorbed, 

Folding the Holy Infant in his arms : 

Joseph bears the exile beautifully. 

'•' St. Joseph, nursing-father to Him by whom all things 
live, pray for u.s." 

« ' ^ * 



— ^ 

EGYPT. 211 

The Child being older, Joseph " would make 
For Him a seat on one end of his bench 
Among the shavings," where with gravity 
He " would watch the progress of the auger," 
Or " how His father handled the chisel." 
"At length He was large enough to stand by th' bench." 

Then when Joseph wanted timber and went 

Up the banks of the river where it grew 

For it, he would take Him with him. He would 

At such times show Him th' river-crocodile 

At a distance, and tell Him th' poor idolaters 

Here worshiped these monsters — all which Jesus 

Before knew, but was pleased to have him tell 

To Him. He would show Him th' nest of the swan. 

Sometimes a solitary swan, and sometimes 

Two together, would sail down the river. 

Sometimes they would hear the swans sing. 

One day they heard the death-song. Joseph stood 

Breathless — not more breathless than the Child stood 

Beside him. That Child who made all these things 

Will be a human Child and have His father 

Conduct toward Him as a father toward his child. 

I cannot — no, I am unable to say 
Whether legend or dream : One day Joseph 
Took Jesus with him when he went to cut 
Timber. He let the Child see the fishes 
At the bottom of the river, and left 
Him to gather lilies for His mother 
While he selected and cut down a tree ; 
And, the tree being ready, was alarmed 



— * 



t$l~- >ll 

212 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

To not find the Child. He searched in his haste 

The bank some way up, and finding no trace, 

He hastened to the house, saying the Child 

Has gone to His mother. Come to the house, 

Mary had gone to take home some work — th' house 

Was alone : all things said alone ! He grew 

Very frightened for the Child, retracing 

All his steps — searching every thicket, 

Every little cove among the rushes — 

Every nook — often raising hia hands 

In anguish, shedding many tears, calling 

Through th' wood Jesus by His name often aloud ; 

And for three hours found Him not ; yet could not 

Once give Him up; and how could he go back 

To Mary without th' Child? ' If He is gone,' 

Said Joseph, ' I can never go back to Mary 

Till I find Him, I can never look up 

To the Father who placed Him in my care! 

How have I taken care of His dear Son ! 

And why did I not charge Him to stay ? 

He always obeys, beautiful Divine One ! 

If I find Him again' 

He had explored 
Farther up the bank than he thought the Child 
Could have strayed. He stands indeterminate 
What to do. He is just beginning to stand 
Paralyzed when he sees a purple speck 
On a little promontory farther up 
The river. It may be a swan, he says, 
But he knows that it is not. He was faint 
Almost for his joy ; but he ran toward — 
He flew till he came where he could see well, 



♦|» i *$* 






EGYPT. 213 

"When he paused. It was Him ! wonderful Boy ! 

The Divine Child was seated upon a rock, 

Upon the very edge of the river : 

All the animals found upon these banks 

Were gathered around Him, and in the tree 

Over His head the birds found in Egypt ; 

Upon the river the swans were listening. 

One of the birds was purple like His tunic, 

The other white as the lilies retained 

In His hand for His adored Mother. 

He was preaching to His assembled creatures — 

Th' fishes at His feet; and that was not all — 

A hideous, " cunning, glittering-fanged monster" 

Lay but a brief distance off — expanded 

Almost within reach of His feet that hung 

Over the water — lay " cruelly winking 

His eye at Him." Joseph was awed ; but he saw, 

Or imagined that he saw, a movement 

Of th' treacherous crocodile, and he caught 

Up the Child in Ins strong arms and fled. 

After this he was more careful — careful 

Never to lose sight of Jesus when Jesus 

Was with him by the river or in the fields. 

St. Joseph, the reputed father op the Son of God, 
pray for us." 



•* 



214 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

MY SON OUT OF EGYPT. 

EIGHT — nine years in Egypt and yet no signs 
Of a recall. Joseph and Mary begin 
To feel that they are planted, or would, 
Only they know they are waiting. Joseph 
Has another dream. St. Raphael appears 
To him again in the night as he sleeps 
In the latticed porch of his little house — 
Where he always slept while in Egypt — 
So he felt to guard the Mother and Child, 
In this land of strangers. In the morning 
We shall see what Joseph will do ; so shall 
We know what the angel has told him. Mary 
And Jesus seem to sleep calmly within 
While th' angel converses for a moment 
With Joseph. All the city is buried 
In a very deep slumber. No one there knows 
An angel is in the city. Why should 
They ? God has been among them several years 
And they have never discovered it yet. 

Joseph is coming with old Asinus 

Through the gate of the little house. Mary 

With Jesus accompanies him. The birds 

Are singing their sweetest matins. They go 

Down the little path beside the river ; 

Th' richness of sunrise with its enchantments 

Clothes th' beautiful bank of the Nile. In vain ! 

Old Egypt. " It is morning in their hearts 

As well." " Joseph's dream is being accomplished." 

♦|<— — . , -—4* 



* 

MY SON OUT OF EGYPT. 215 

" They have a glory around them in haloes" — 

A brightness around even the poor beast 

That bore Mary and the Babe to Egypt 

And is going with them back. Nothing could 

Detain them now. They hurry on t' overtake 

The caravan that started before th' dawn. 

They have nothing to pay — the eve before 

They had distributed their last provisions 

To some sufferers who came to their door. 

Joseph might have disposed of his tools 

For bread. God will dispose the caravansarie. 

The men welcome Joseph, the women, Mary; 
"That Boy gladdens the whole caravan." 
' ' Jesus in the desert the second time — the desert 

Is twice blessed." "All three are on foot now. Th' Boy 

Walks between His father and His mother." 

When the Feet of the little boy-God grow tired 

And sore from travelling over the hot sand, 

The foster-father puts him upon the ass 

To ride. Th' kind master of this family 

Would not suffer them to walk all the way : 

The tender feet of Jesus and Mary 

Are too soon bleeding ; but they walk as much 

As they can ; no one ever bore hardships 

So well as Jesus and Mary. 

Three leagues 

From Palestine : the whole caravan press on. 

Crossing the green pastures of Benjamin. 

Drawing near his old home, Joseph considers 

Should any evil be stirred up again 

The Child would be less like to be sought there ; 

It would be good to dwell by his aged parents 



216 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

While they might live : but as he came where th' roads 
Diverged, a man met them who was from that place, 
Of whom he enquired concerning the rule, 
And feared to go up more than to Nazareth. 

Drawing near Nazareth — Mary's sweet Nazareth ! ' 
The little house is seen upon the hill. 
There is the olden look of contentment 
„ In Joseph's face. Now Joseph is happier 
Than if he had gone up to his old home : 
As we may " come nigh to some seeming rest 
In life and lose it, to after that reach 
A better rest through disappointment." Look 
In the face of Mary ! Look in the sweet Face 
Of Almighty God's dear Boy ! "All three wear 
The look in their faces of those entering 
Heaven." The little Hill trembles. 

Look down, 0, trembling Hill ! and see 
Thy best beloved ones come back to thee. 

To glorify yet more thy blessed bowers 

And dwell with thee a hundred thousand hours ! 

Look down, sweet-expectant Hill ! and see 
The King of all earth's kings come back to thee. 

Look down, Hill most fructified! and see 
The Rose from thy fair sod come back to thee. 

Look down, Mount, as paradise! and see 
The Father of the patriarchs come back to thee. 

Consider and regard them kneeling on the sward 



♦&« 



MY SOX OUT OF EGYPT. 

Before the house, Joseph returning thanks 

To God that He has enabled him to bring back 

The mother and his dear Child in safety. 

Behold little Jesus of Nazareth knelt 

For the first time upon the green plat 

Before His ancestors' door to adore 

His Father who is in heaven. 

" Jesus ! O Jesus ! 
Shadows of earth and sadness depart. 

Jesus ! O Jesus ! 
The angels have mirth; hope brightens our heart ' " 



21' 




-* 



*■ 



■* 




33H|HFPt^ 



The Holy Family again at home— The last eighteen years of 
the Life of our dear Saint Joseph in Nazareth. 



[Mary in the early morning vpon the lawn before h ■■ house.) 

" As the sun o'er misty shrouds 
When he walks upon the clouds ; 
Or as when the moon doth rise 
And refreshes all the skies ; 
Or as when the lily-flower 
Stands amid the vernal bower : 
Thus above all others shone 
The Mother of the Blessed One." 

" The Blessed One, He stands beside — 
Mary's crown and love and pride — 
A Flower of beauty rare " — 



*■ 



" Most like cf all earth's gems 
To the Virgin Mother bright." 

" O vision bright! " 
' : Angels delight ! " 
" Her form He bears. 
Her look He wears ! " — Ave Mint. 

N T D while yet early, the villagers came. 
Who saw a smoke from the cottage, 
To see who now inhabited the place ; 
And when they saw Mary and her family 
Had returned to dwell near them again, 
Whom they had given up in their minds 
As dead, they welcomed them with much kindness 
Nazareth was a quiet little hamlet 




-* 



$ * 

220 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Iu the most mountainous part of Syria, 

All the inhabitants poor ; but the poorest 

Were glad to see Joseph come back to end 

His days among them. How could they receive 

Other than kind that benevolent old man ? 

But they were all surprised to see how old 

He had grown. His journeyings and his toils, 

His anxieties, his humiliations untold — 

His surroundings by the idolaters — 

His zeal for the true God and for the souls 

Of the pagan, all these had burdened our Saint 

And had diminished his days ; but it was 

For God. How happy it is to grow old 

For God ; how happy to be quickly ripe. 

Meantime, Mary so sweet and so serene, 

Only more blooming, so untouched by time. 

The old neighbors wondered to find Joseph 

So old and Mary so young and fair still. 

The sweet fact they knew not what blessed Fruit 

She had borne : how It had impregnated, 

Or imbued not only all her spirit, 

But likewise all her precious person 

With a fragrance and a youth that could not 

Perish or decay. They simply wondered 

And took a swetft pride in her as the Flower 

Of their hills. She was their child, and the Boy, 

Shy and beautiful, that clung silently 

By her side, was the Fruit of their flower ; 

But Salome and Zebedee, her spouse, 

Most were glad, and the poor all rejoiced : 

They would sympathize with their sufferings; 

They would find out for them ways of help 



XAZARETJI. 221 

Blessed Mary, though the walls were damp, went 
To housekeeping again in her little house. 
Tradition says that a bird had a nest 
In a niche of the wall of her chamber, 
And the bird remained and reared her young there, 
And the Christ Boy fed the birds crumbs 
That His mother gathered from the table — 
Only th' Creator feeding His creatures — 
" Visible sight of what He does every day." 

Faithful Eleazer. 

Joseph resumed his labors the nest day 

After their arrival. He had no more 

Any servant. Old and faithful Eleazer, 

After the departure, when they had fled — 

For they went in secrecy and by night — 

When he had sought as much as he could, 

When after the massacre of the Innocents 

They yet returned not, then his heart was sick. 

Zebedee and Salome would have taken him in, 

Hut he would not depart from or leave 

The old house in which his master had died, 

Where the child of his master had been born; 

Even Mary, the dear Flower his old eyes 

Had worshiped ; But he would walk all the day 

Through the pastures as seeking some one, 

And tended the herd in those days, saving, 

' They will come ! ' And the few sheep only left 

Now of the many that had been Joachim's; 

But the wolves broke in and the robbers 

(Wolves and robbers have always envied Mary's fold). 

And when the old servant had no more care, 



■M 



* * 

222 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

He sat down under the tree where Joachim 
Had sat the summer before he died, 
All the day long, and he answered not 
"When any one spake unto him, and one day 
He died there. And Zebedec and his sons 
Buried him under the tree where he had died ; 
And Mary, when returned to Nazareth, saw 
The grave of Eleazer, and remembered 
All of his fidelity unto her father 
And unto her mother all of the days 
She was a widow, and all of his care 
And very tender love for her, and his joy 
When she brought home Jesus, and she visited 
His grave and prayed for th' repose of his soul. 

Joseph's Friends Come to Rejoice with Him 

Nor was it long before Cleophas came 
With his wife, and Soba and her husband 
To rejoice with Joseph and his family, 
Whom they supposed dead. 

Mary Cleophas 
Brought her young son, James, with her. Old men 
Who had known Joseph when a boy, said 
The lad was like his uncle. This nephew 
Was a remarkable and pious boy 
And loved the synagogue while yet a child ; 
But from the time he heard of the massacre 
Of the young children, and what had become 
Of th' family of Joseph, was not known, 
He grew pensive, insomuch, that his parents 
Remarked and refrained to speak of the slaughter 
In his presence ; and the delight of the child 

4* ♦$♦ 



■ — ► < 

NAZARETH. 223 

Overflowed when they heard of the return, 
And he besought to go up with his parents. 

See those two boys meet: Cleophas advances 

A little ahead — Mary Cleophas leads 

Her timid, beaming young boy by the hand, 

But a step in the rear — Joseph and Mary 

And Jesus come upon the lawn to meet 

Them. Cleophas has fallen upon the neck 

Of Joseph. The Blessed Virgin embraces 

Her sister-in-law — the wives of such brothers — 

Beautiful tie between these two Marys ! 

Cleophas is alone in the Gospels, by name, 

Honored — "His brethren believed not in Him (Jesus.) 

The other sons of Jacob and their sons ; so were 

Their names not written ; Cleophas believed ; 

So was his name, for his faith, written. 

James the shy boy of Mary Cleophas felt 

At first some considerable timidity 

As he and his mother approached nearer 

To Jesus. An imperceptible sanctity 

Met and retarded him. The Divine Cousin 

Sweetly looks on His little relative — 

One irresistable glance — the bashfulness 

Melts. Drawn to His arms, with a pure, young 

And holy warmth, the all-privileged boy 

Kisses with a delicious boyish ardor 

His Imperial Brother's cheeks — both cheeks — 

And his two arms around Him, holds Him, hugs 

Him with a saint's and with a boy's enthusiasm, 

To his happy — to his too happy heart. 



»& > 



224 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Jesus — ' ' My brother ! " James — ' ' My Brother ! " 
"Ask and yo shall receive." So had James done, 
At first claimed Jesns; so Jesus received 
James: so their parents called him the brother; 
So the Apostles afterward. He kept holy 
His purity. Jesus loved him. He was one 
Of His Three — that trinity in the Twelve — 
Christ's Three — the Vicar, the Brother, the Friend 
And James occupies the order of place here 
That Jesus does in the Heavenly Trinity. 
James in the trinity of the Apostles, 
As the second person represents Jesus 
And is Flis shadow, as Peter the shadow 
Of the Paternity and John th' shadow 
Of the Holy Spirit. Nor, thus clearly 
Can we recognize in the authority 
Of Peter the shadow of the Father, 
And the character of the Holy Ghost — 
That is love, in John, but must observe 
Th' shadow of th' Divine Brother in him named 
Thus mystically — " James the Lord's brother." 

Cleophas told Joseph all the last words 

Of Jacob their father, and of their mother, 

Both of whom died mourning — and presented 

The portion as had Jacob his father 

Designed before he regarded him dead ; 

Which Joseph would have persuaded him to keep ; 

But when Cleophas had pressed him, he took 

It; but before many days had disbursed 

It all to the need}' — some poor lepers 

Not suffered to come nieh to the hamlet. 



*■ 



NAZARETH. 225 

But who dwelt upon the mountains apart, 

And none in charity visited for fear 

Of the leprosy, but the Blessed Virgin 

And Saint Joseph, and whom Joseph desired 

To help, but had no means before this came : 

Saint Joseph himself felt so rich with Jesus 

And Mary that he did not wish for more ; 

But he remembered when Cleophas pressed 

Him these, and so took the silver for his poor. 

The poor, it has been said were Joseph's heirloom. 

Picture of Jesus a Boy. — By Saint Luke. 

Only picture of Jesus a boy in the Gospels : 

The Three going up to the Feast. They go 

Down the harrow lane from the Hill 

To the hamlet. It is only the grey 

Of the morning ; but there is a halo 

Around their heads that reflects upon th' path 

And reveals who they are distinctly. 

Joseph's heart beats with a very deep joy : 

It is a long time since they have trod 

Th' amiable courts. He longs once more to join 

In the grand worship of God in the temple. 

Mary moves very serenely sweet on ; 

But Jerusalem can never be the same 

As before that prophecy of Simeon : 

She has a fear of it now, but " Mary 

Was never afraid to do her duty." 

Never hesitates to go anywhere 

With Joseph and Jesus. We only look 

Into the still beautiful face of the Boy. 

—4 



4»- ___ — —*$t 

226 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

The Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple : 

Th' good old High Priest who blest her receptiou 

And marriage is dead, and a strange High Priest 

In his place — Eleazer, the very old priest, 

Whose favorite she was — Anna the old 

And venerable matron of the almahs — dead : 

All the almahs she had known, gone : Simeon 

The old prophet to her, had died soon after. 

But more than all Mary felt the absence 

Of Zachary, for she missed him at th' altars : 

She missed his benediction, the blessing 

He alway had for Anna's and Joachim's child, 

And for her own sweetness' sake. There were none 

Of the priests of the temple in her time there, 

Had loved and understood Mary as Zachary. 

There had been a great change in the priests 

And in the priesthood. The rule in the land 

Had told here. The brows of the priests were sterner. 

Mary saw it and felt that presentiment, 

A grand old religion was dying, or passing 

Without dying — which is worse — into change. 

There has been a greater change than these deaths, 

Or translations. All felt it. None could have felt 

It more than Mary. ' He ?' God is always 

Excepted. All His saints never felt a defalcation 

In His Church, a diminution in piety 

As He. Mary had felt the change at Nazareth, 

When she came back after her long exile ; 

But not as she felt it here. The Saints never feel 

A change in anything as in religion ; 

Nothing touches them as a heresy. 

Jesus kneels where Joseph did when a boy. 

♦J* , , — *i* 



NAZARETH. 



* 

227 



The Boy Jesus stays behind in th' temple. 

He is a Priest and has a love for th' house 

Of God ; besides it is His Father's house; 

And where should His home be if not 

In His Father's house? But how Mary lost 

Her dear Son — how she sorrowed ; how Joseph 

Sorrowed ; how they sought for Him ; how they found 

Him sounding the doctors, and took Him back 

With them, is written in our "Rosa Mystica." 

A saint has said Jesus sought for the stole 
Of obedience through heaven, and finding it not, 
Came down to the shop of the carpenter. 
Good Saint Joseph don't mean to lose Jesus 
Again. He holds His hand close as they go 
Home together — almost with authority. 
The hand trembles, but does not quit its hold 
Of his Infinite Lord. " He understands 
His relations to the Incarnate Word." 
To perform it is his great obedience. 
"Self-subjection falls like a veil of light" 
"Over his face" when he commands Jesus; 
But he commands Him. If honors humble 
Saints, how humble Saint Joseph must have been. 

'•Nobly didst thou bear thy title, 
Father of the Incarnate Word ! 
Every part of His creation 

With thy glorious fame is stirred." — M. L. M. 

St. Joseph, ruler of the Lord of the Universe, pray 

FOR US." 

The little chamber at Nazareth that night: 
Mary has said His night-prayers with Jesus ; 



•*■ 



■* 



4> * — ■— — ■ 

228 THE SAINT OF NAZA.HETH. 

She tucks up the little red coverlet — ■ 

Of the same color as the Precious Blood — 

Over those dear, divine limbs. She stands now 

On her knees by the side of His cot-bed. 

She bends her head for a mother's good-night. 

We may think how Mary always caressed 

The cheek of her Divine Child. We may think 

How she pressed it that night. She had feared 

He was irrecoverably lost She has 

Her ineffable Child again. Her heart 

Is too full for words now. She is silent. 

She has just kissed her own darling Boy. 

She has just kissed — it was her privilege — 

The blessed cheek of the Infinite God ! 

The beautiful Child has put His arms up 

About her neck " with a child's sweetest payment." 

Joseph is looking in at th' chamber-door, 
As if to reassure himself Jesus is there. 

The depth of the night : We look around 
In the two still rooms. Joseph is sleeping 
In one room — Mary and Jesus in th' other ; 
A quiver of rays from the eyes of the moon 
As she watches through the little lattice, 
Open to the sweet night, comes to stand 
Around their faces. Sleep sweet, sweet Jesus! 
Sleep sweet, Virgin Mary ! Sleep sweet, 
" Mirror of Sanctity — Saint Joseph 
Of Nazareth — master of the Hidden Life ! " 
You shall have Jesus now eighteen years. 



NAZAEETH. 229 

Glimpses of Nazareth. 
The Human Life of Jesus Developed. 

"And He grew in favor with God and man." . 
We have looked upon the one sacred painting 
Of the young Immanuel Boy — a dark veil 
There is at best betwixt us and the years 
Of the Hidden Life after this — thick-lined 
With nigh twenty centuries. " The veil now 
And then parts, so we see in a little. 
Ifc is a little. A kind angel draws 
The folds back, or a wind of grace blows 
The jealous curtain aside for a moment, 
Just so we see how utterly lonesome 
We must inevitably be, did it never part. 
But the veil is there, over these dearest years, 
That imagination reveres, and from hence 
Th' deep folds but infold th' more mystically : 
It the more seldom opens after Joseph 
And Mary, having brought Jesus back 
From the temple, go within with Him ; 
And yet it does open : still opens up 
Some illumined moment, so to give glimpses, 
All which, when it docs, are as paradise; 
When it parts never so little, we catch 
Such sweet visions. Words have jeweled frames; 
But none with diamonds enough for these pictures.. 
Now we see Mary walking in her garden 
With Jesus, and it is revealed anon 
That it is His birthday. He is almost 
A year older now than when we last saw 
Him, and has not before seen a birthday 



4 



_ * 

230 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

In His own home: the first was in Bethlehem, 

The next in Egypt, th' last when in th' desert 

The second time. Who would have thought that night 

Of the Annunciation, when the hill shone 

And was so sanctified, Nazareth must wait 

So many years to see His first birthday ? 

But it has come, and Mary, sweet Mother 

Of Jesus, walks in the garden with her Son 

To-day under the old pomegranate trees. 

woman, who is to walk in the gardens 

Of Paradise ! She walks now in a garden 

Of sweet paradise, for she walks with Jesus 

In the dear old garden of Nazareth. 

"O Mother of fair Love ! " 
'•O Child of Face Divine! " 

The sound of the hammer is heard in Joseph's shop. 

"We hear the echo sweet 
Of Jesus' words to Mary." 

Joseph looks out at the little window 
Of his shop into the garden below : 
Jesus and Mary are near the window, 
Conversing together gravely quiet. 

A mist has arisen and we see not Jesus — 
Not God ; for Jesus is God — beautiful thought 
Alway to keep. It is what makes the life 
Of Mary and Joseph so bright, and Nazareth 
A Paradise — God is there. It is God 
With them. If we watch, too, we may observe 
From day to day the young Lord Jesus Christ 

»x< > i 



* 



NAZARETH. 231 

Giving charities at the door of His ancestors— 
A God giving out charities at the door 
Of His human ancestors — Christ breaking 
Bread at tho door of His mother's house. 
Mary would often place her donation 
In the hands of Jesus to give : So would 
She teach her Son who needed no teaching, 
To compassionate all the unfortunate 
Around Him ; and she loved to have it pass 
Through His hands. The indigent and suffering 
Never forgot the door of Mary or the shop 
Of Joseph. 

0, to have been the ancestors 
Of Almighty God! Holy Joachim — Anna, 
Sleeping in your graves in that holy cave 
At the foot of the gardens. 0, to have been 
One of the poor who received a morsel 
From the sweet hand of the Christ at the door 
Of His mother! We may now. We are poor ; 
Let us go to Mary's door and beg. 

Jesus Works : 

It is very still and lovely : all is sd mystical 
We see no one before the door to-day. 
We venture to walk under the palm trees ; 
But we hear no stir. We peer half within, 
Deliciously curious. 0, how solitary 
It is! The dear House is empty, we feel 
Rather than see. We regard the threshold. 
We would not pass over where Jesus has, 
Where those Holy Personages go in and out, 
x\nd they absent — not in th' free permittance 



'* 



232 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Of poesy — our imagination, too, 
Must even be pious. 

But, the little shop 
In the edge of the orchard, the door 
Is open — 

" The litter of a working-place : 
Boards propped against the near wall — pieces 
Of wood — straight lines of saw-dust — saw and square — 
A cask of nails — hammer — augers, mingling 
In the apparent confusion ; implements 
Of agriculture that wait for repair, 
Inside and outside of the door. Joseph 
Showing young Jesus how to do some work. 
His broad, man's hand laid over the small ban J 
Of the Boy, guiding the Omnipotent Hand 
Gently, but mechanically — gazing 
Rather on the Saviour's Face than the work ; 
Recognizing the Eternal Worker, 
Who so fashioned the world, whose fingers 
He th' aged carpenter is venturing now 
To press and guide. He knows it is simply 
Man teaching God. Th' old man's face overflows 
With awe ; but he desists not from guiding 
The band — does not interrupt the lesson. 

"Mary is sitting in the farther corner 
Of the shop, where she used to sit for hours 
When Joseph and Jesus worked in the shop. 
She Ids some sewing ; but her eyes are more 
On Jesus than on her work. Not a word 
Is spoken in the shop for hours. There was 
Too much peace — too much of the divine. 

* 



+ < 



NAZARETH. 238 

The shop of Joseph is as a tabernacle. * 
Let us go up the hills to recover ourself, 
We are too weak to look upon that man 
Who ventures to teach his Creator. Let 
Us sit down and revolve the character 
Of th' blessed Saint Joseph — Of Mary's lord. 

" Wo cannot avoid picturing him, as one fitted for contempla- 
tion rather than action. . . Both on account of his excelling 
tenderness and also of his remarkable quietness of spirit." . . . 
" The very ages of the Church have had as well as his own pre- 
cious devotees to learn him slowly." "And each of the ages 
has given surprise at finding hini a considerable mountain of 
virtues more than had been known in the ages gone before." 
"The graces of St. Joseph are as the virtues of the master of 
God's household." — Bethlehem. 

But in order to understand the least 
Of the goodness of Saint Joseph, we must come 
And live nearer to his door in Nazareth ; 
Where the calm depth of his character will grow 
Upon us as most things supernatural — slowly. 
Saint Joseph was sanctified in Bethlehem 
And in place. Saint Joseph was beautiful 
Tii the desert and Egypt and in place. 
Everywhere with the young Child and Mary, 
Saint Joseph is paternal and perfect : 
But our dear Saint is at home in Nazareth : 
No more journeyings, no more hard exile; 
His deep, fatherly heart has nothing here 
To do but to pour out love for Jesus 
And Mary ; and " we may see how Jesus 
Feeds on this sweet, unobtrusive homage." 

*"Tlie litter of a common workiug-place," &c— Faber's descrip- 
tion of Joseph's work-shop.— Bethlehem. 
20* 

* * 



* 

234 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

That our Saint pours to Him — " feeds"- — so allows 
It. In its sweetness, we, too, fall asleep 
Under th' trees upon th' hillside of Nazareth, 
Caressing a sweet vision that has come 
Of the lad- Jesus, caressing Saint Joseph. 
We close our eyes to think what it must have been. 
He sometimes caresses souls to whom He comes — 
They who have sweet sacramental communions 
With Jesus, can picture somewhat Joseph's joy. 

The old man has fallen asleep by the bench 

In his shop. That beautiful carpenter Boy 

Of twelve and a half or thirteen years, 

Is regarding him now. He lays His hand 

On the sleeper's hand — it is half a caress 

And half an inquiry if the old man 

Is asleep — although He knows well enough 

He is asleep. He used to caress that hand 

When a child. He would caress when a child 

The hand of Joseph with such a grave awe ; 

Then as a human child — as any dear boy, 

He would put those little faultless arms up — 

Would entwine His arms about his neck. 

He is older now ; but when the old Saint 

Is asleep, He will take the liberty. 

See th' darling Divine Boy ! He has just laid 

His cheek to that old man's cheek. He has 

Just tried th' effect, and he does not waken. 

Jesus knew he would not. Joseph sleeps now, 

Only more in an ecstacy than sleep. 

Jesus lays His lips on that dear brow, rich 

With wrinkles. When th' lips of Jesus have pressed, 

* 



NAZARETH. 235 

A brightness only overspreads tli' whole face : 
That is all. All ! God kiss the brow of man ! 

Sleeping — they come — a bevy of visions — 
A celestial catacomb, winding the one 
Into the other — now at a distance, 
Only to be in the next instance back, 
Walking amid th' thyme before Mary's door ; 
We behold the outer porch of the cottage 
Then th' interior of the holy house comes 
Before us again, which we know so well, 
"And Joseph's shop and the green swelling hills 
Are seen through the open doorway." Mary 
Is seated in th' doorway of her dwelling, 
Spinning — " though at this moment her work 
Is arrested." She is looking upon Jesus 
And "Jesus is near her looking fixed 
At some doves He is feeding at the door." 
Mary is gazing upon her Son with one 
Of her peculiarly lovely " mother-looks 
Passing into adoration." "We look 
Every moment to see her at His feet." 
Why this is she does not exactly know ; 
Yet it is not new, for there have been times 
Like this before — "When His apparent growth 
Has dawned upon her through some gesture 
Or look seemingly trivial." It is the book ! 
Th' book we have been reading reappearing 
In our dream. It is just the book we brought 
With us into th' Nazareth mountains to read : 

" It is just as with mothers whose eyes do not see their children 
row, but who wake up to the fact now and then that they have 



*r 



236 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

grown, that some sweet, interesting change has taken place in 
them." " It is the hour of one of those heavenly surprises now. 
Mary looks as we might fancy an angel might look . . . for the 
first time seeing something new in God, yet which was always 
there." 

Lay it up ; lay it far up on the shelf; 

That sweet book, "Bethlehem!" We trespass 

Too much ; we will not look into it again. 

Many sweet things go by indistinctly; 

And there is th' soft sleep too quiet for dreams — 

Something as the dear peace of Nazareth — 

As at the foot of the altar, on the step 

Lowest down in some solitary chapel — 

Some warm afternoon after having prayed. 

The afternoon is going by. What was 
It that awakened us? Perhaps a ray 
From the Boy, or from the heart of Joseph : 
Some one is coming through the wood 
Above us. It is Joseph, who has been 
To the mountains for a beam of timber. 
He has a large beam upon his shoulder 
And Jesus is carrying a smaller beam 
Beside him. They come silently down 

Tliey have gone by and we are left alone ! 

To quench the thirst of our eyes, we must see 

Nazareth again and the Child that belongs 

To heaven, but is upon the earth! We are 

So weary of earth ! Yet who must not wait 

Spiritual sweetnesses, till as surprises 

They come. But, soul, we are near Mary's home ! 

" St. Joseph, organ of the Divine Word reduced to si- 
lence, PRAY POR US ! " 



*' 



* 

NAZARETH. 237 

Jesus Fifteen Years Old. 

Jesus stands before Mary's door. The Boy 

Has now grown to a youth — tall and graceful 

In His young God-likeness — " a pure form ; " 

A physique, slender — very admirable ; — 

The gold on His Head darkens — th' curls taking 

A browner hue, and " there is the first line 

Of a beard on His delicate cheek." How pure 

Modest and recollect his countenance ! 

0, to look into the Face of Jesus ! 

To see the cheek of the Incarnate Youth ! 

The lineaments of the divine God-youth ! 

St. Aloysius — St. Stanislaus were angel youths — 

Beautiful youths ! more angels than men ! 

What were Saints Aloysius and Stanislaus 

Compared with Jesus of Nazareth ? Did 

You ever think of Jesus at Fifteen ? 

He has been just those years upon the earth. 

He stands in the doorway so pensive and sweet. 

Perhaps He is thinking of this. Doubtless 

He remembers, dear Youth of the Precious Blood ! 

Saint Joseph sits upon a low narrow bench 
That stands beside the door — his eyes are closed. 
We might think he slept but for the trembling 
Of the lids and th' tender ripples of light 
Running over that holy countenance. 
Mary may be seen at the casement, looking 
Into the clouds — and anon upon Jesus ; — 
The clouds seem to be full of angels to-day. 



■* 



♦*■ 



■* 



238 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 



Eighteen. 



He is the young God-man — Precious Christ! 

He works and Joseph rests They are employed 

In the shop. There is a wondrous royalty 

In the grave simplicity of that young man ; 

An out-gleam of resplendent mysteries 

At times. Jesus is eighteen — eighteen ! He works 

A tradesman comes from one of the villages 

Near Nazareth to procure a trellis-work ; 

Examining the good work in that shop, 

Would pause sudden, stand and look at the tall 

And silent young man gravely driviag his plane 

At the work-bench, and would ask is this thy Sou ? 

How Joseph's heart would beat — what a strange leap 

It would give ; yet only a look would come 

Into his face as grave and strange as bright, 

As he would answer — Son of th' Lord who gave, 

May He, His servant behold ! And the man 

Would go his way comprehending not, 

Yet saying to himself as he departed, 

A man as good as the patriarch Abraham ; 

That Youth, of what sedateness and beauty. 

Strange carpenters these ! I will purchase here 

All I may need. Here is where I shall buy. 

Another man comes one day to the shop — 
It is to order a yoke — Joseph takes 
The order of the yoke, Jesus is to make. 
The farmer passes out — Joseph follows 
To the door — Says the man in a low voice 
To Joseph, standing upon th' steps — He was 



*• 



-I 



NAZARETH. 239 

Modest and did not wish Jesus should hear — 
' People say there is not such a young man 
In all the country round.' A deep look comes 
Into Joseph's eyes. It is a sweet thing to Joseph 
To hear Jesus praised. 

A rich woman sends 
From a far town for a chest to be made 
In which to store linen. Jesus made th' chest : 
No linens ever moulded therein : th' sheets 
Came out therefrom redolent with odor 
As the scent of the apothecaries ointment 
Poured thereon, very precious. 

Blessed Mary 
Is busy in her house with her needle, 
Forming a garment for Joseph — at work 
On a rug under which Jesus will sleep — 
Arranging the tapestries where God has slept — 
Spreading th' couch where the Son of the Highest 
Takes his repose — that lovely human rest, 
Each night — or kneading the cakes. She has ground 
Her barley and is kneading her bread to bake 
In the ashes upon the hearth for breakfast. 
Just to think of Mary getting breakfast ! 
And what then? Jesus, Mary and Joseph 
Taking breakfast together. The ingredients 
Are meted, moulded, wrapped in th' scented leaf, 
Lain in the heated stones to bake and tended 
Till just right, crusted and cooked. Watch Mary, 
Each little movement of her culinaries. 
The Blessed Mother knows for what dignities 
She performs every act of labor. She knows 
The angels observe everything she does 



■* 



240 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And wish they could do what she is doing, 
And she never thinks she wuld do anything 
Too well for Joseph, sweet model spouse ; 
And for Him — 0, there is nothing ou this earth 
Good enough for Him! Her Jesus! Sweet Son 
Of her virginity and of the Father 
Who is in Heaven ! How the Blessed Virgin 
Must have dreamed over it at her work. Watch 
Her at all her varied toils in the fair morn, 
Or when the eve drops down with sweet dews 
Upon Nazareth. We find her the same— 
Th' lovely, eminently serene mother — 
That is her grace, or air of all her graces : 
Mary's serenity is her beauty. Mary 
Is now the full blown Rose Immaculate. 

The Christ in the first, fresh, bright, clear bloom 
Of that one white, great, true manhood, how fair 
He must have been to the heart and the eyes 
Of Mary, His pure mother, and to the eyes 
Of that worshipful old man, Joseph. 

There is such kindness in the carpenter's son, 
Talk two other patronnesses of the shop 
Of Joseph, in the old lane to the hamlet — 
Two neighboring women who have come out 
From the shop : one wished for a loom mended, 
The beam of which she had broken. Jesus 
Has undertaken to do it. He loves to work 
For His creatures — really loves to oblige 
Them as never any saint did. He will do 
The loom this afternoon, and thus fill full 
The day with work. 



3 

NAZAKETH. 241 

' When He speaks,' says one, 

'No one ever heard such words' — 'A sweet voice' 

'A delicious voice ! ' murmured both women, 

Walking down from the hill together. 

Jesus looking after them lovingly, stands 

In the door. They never imagine He hears 

All they say. 

It is enough to see Jesus 

As in a picture, standing before the door 

Of the carpenter's shop at Nazareth ; 

To sec Him in His peaceful godliness, 

In the soft veil of th' incarnation, walk 

Over the green turf between the house and shop. 

Mary is looking from the window now, 

Is watching Him now through her lattice, 

All which th' dear Humanity sweetly knows, 

But does not seem to know. Joseph is gazing. 

Upon Him, too, through the door of the shop. 

Jesus of Nazareth has reached the door 

Of the house and stands upon the threshold 

To survey the beautiful hills around. 

His eye sweeps very affectionately 

The fields and the circuit of the hills, 

Gloriously round about this dear Nazareth, 

Sweeps tenderly th' fair picture of landscape ; 

It is humanly dear to Him, this fair home — 

The paternal inheritance of Mary, 

His mother — th' old home of His human fathers. 

Behold the loveliness of His countenance. 

" Thou art beautiful above the sons of men, therefore hath God? 
blessed Thee forever! Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, 0, Thou 
Most Mighty 1 In thy comeliness and beauty go forth ! Pro- 
ceed prosperously and reign.'" — Psalms. 
n 



* *g» 

242 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Jesus Twenty-Two. 

The full developed, young-man-God — Jesus Christ, 
Twenty-two-years ! — in the clear, sweet noonday, 
Sitting under the three palms before the door — 
His mother's roll of th' scriptures in His hand. 
Sweet mother, she sits at His feet — Joseph 
On a seat under the tree by Jesus. 
These scriptures are dear to Jesus — are dear 
To the humanity of the Sacred Heart — 
It is the law to Him of His Heavenly Father — ■ 
It is, to Him, th' Book of the Holy Ghost — 
For whom Jesus had such a tender love — 
"And they are they which do testify 

Of me." Behold Jesus, the ancient roll 
In His hand reading to His foster-father 
And to His mother, and then explaining 
As tie reads as man never before. explaiue J. 
Or it is the sunset as Jesus reads. 
And He pauses reverently as the sun 
Goes down and Joseph arises to lead 
The night prayers. The Father of the Family 
Never omits — never questions his office. 
The Father arises and says " Let us pray," 
And the Three bow down with their faces 
Toward Jerusalem. 

And the prayer ended, 
The Three will sit in their contemplation 
And silence together until the twilight. 

" St. Joseph, head of the most noble and Holy Family, 
pray for us ! " 



: * 

NAZARETH. 24o 

Another time, while Mary, whose hands make 
Housewifery holy — dear St. Joseph's wife — 
Looks after the house, Jesus may be seen 
Seated on a stool by Joseph — Joseph 
In the old stone-seat by the doorway — 
Jesus reading to him and expounding 
To him the prophecies. 

Another time 
At noon, Joseph reposes in an arbor 
In th' garden while Jesus converses with Mary. 

A Quarter of a Century in the Life of Jesus. 

Twenty-five years ago this afternoon 
Mary was entering inhospital Bethlehem. 
She is full of sweet thoughts of it to-day. 
Joseph is thinking of that midnight-cave, 
In his old accustomed seat by the door : 
It makes the waves come and go in his face — 
The waves of a peculiarly sweet light — 
Mary comes to the side of her husband, 
Hearing a Gloria in excehis — 
In the airs over the roof-tree of her house, 
Stands by his side to hear the angels sing. 
Joseph and Mary hear together th' singing. 
Jesus is working by Himself in the shop. 
It is His silver birth-day. What a quarter 
Of a century it has been to that family. 
God had been upon the earth then a quarter 
Of a century — God lived twenty-five years ! 



■* 



tft __ ^ 

2 14 THE SAINT OP NAZARETH. 

Annunciation Anniversary at Nazareth. 

The room in the rock — the alcove chamber, 

Overlooking the gardens of Mary : 

That same sacred parchment of Isias, 

Mary was reading as the angel appeared 

Twenty-eight years ago — lies on her desk, 

That stands where she kne'.t that same glorious night : 

The deep eyes of Jesus brood upon that spot, 

And Mary is seated by the side of Jesus, 

Looking upon th' same spot, keeping holy 

That magnificent hour of the Deity 

And of Christianity. The yellow moon 

Of the evening is in the sky. They sit 

Raptly there. They may sit there till th' midnight. 

The room of the Annunciation has no need 

Of tapers, the wide window at the mouth 

Of the alcove is open to the sky, 

And the anniversaries of the Incarnation 

Are always very bright at Nazareth. 

The nightingales sing in the gardens below 

All night, or till an hour to the midnight, 

When not the note of a nightingale, or hird 

Is heard on the hill — not till the stars strike 

Twelve — when they will gush forth in concerts 

Of unequalled sweetness and mirth and sing 

Till th' morning ; so have they sang twenty-eight times. 

It is near the midnight— the moon has passed 
Over the window — th' room is unlit now 
By the lamp of the night — or in shadow — 

4 4 



NAZARETH. 24; 

The halo is deep round each — Jesus, Mary — 
Joseph lies upon the two steps that lead 
To the chamber where Mary and Jesus sit — 
That venerable head, that snowy beard, 
Reclining upon the door-sill in sleep — 
That benevolent, old, saintly face 
Upturned toward Jesus and Mary as though 
While he had worshipped, being an old man 
And easily overcome, he had fallen asleep, 
Dear old saint- man ! 

They have no need of tapers : 
In the new Jerusalem they will have 
No need. The Lamb shall be the light there : 
The same Lamb, the light of this sacred chamber. 
The recollected midnight steps nearer. 
The haloes are deeper than an hour since 
Round Jesus and Mary — over th' silvery head 
Of Joseph who sleeps upon the threshold. 
In that beautiful sleep of adoration. 
We see the haloes deepen perceptibly — 
That is they glow more like gold and the bands 
Are not only around the heads of Jesus 
And Mary, but th' aureola, an oval, 
Are over the head, and below the feet — 
Around — two transparences in rims of gold, 
A supernatural light behind the scenes, 
Bringing them out — the living Jesus man, 
At that most interesting age of fair 
And intelligent manhood — the Person 
Of the Holy Humanity illumined 
By the Divinity — the Mother Virgin 
In the confessed bloom of her spotless life, 



■* 



*■ 



246 THE SAINT OF NAZAEETH. 

The Golden Rose of Saints — the White Rose 

Of Nazareth, all its petals goldened. 

The Sacred Man — -the sweet, white-rose-woman — 

Two pictures — earth and Heaven in haloes ! 

Just two pictures in frames of paradise 

That burn and widen around th' beautiful heads 

And broaden 'neath the beautiful feet : 

We think of the transfiguration of Olivet — ■ 

The garments whiter than any fuller's snow. 

Mary knows by an interior warmth 

In her soul, it is near th' midnight and kneels 

Down on the same spot whereon she was knelt 

When th' angel came; and when it was midnight 

Jesus prayed and gave thanks to His Father 

In Heaven for His Sacred Humanity, 

For Mary, for Joseph, for all men. 

Other Sanctifications of Saint Joseph. 

And sometimes when the day declined, Jesus 
Would sing a hymn with Mary and Joseph. 
What a choral of voices ! The angels must 
In the clouds have always stood entranced 
When they sang. Think what it must have been 
To hear Jesus sing. Jesus loved to sing hymns. 
He first learned — seemingly so — from Mary. 
The Divine Man would learn from His mother, 
As all men from their mothers. Mary never sang 
In Egypt, not even to her Divine Babe. 
How could th' Blessed Mother sing in the land 
That was not God's? But she sang the sweet night 
After she came up from Egypt, and Jesus, 



*■ 



1 * 

NAZARETH. 247 

Her dear Divine Boy, sang with her — the words 

Sweet in her lips, in His lips only sweeter. 

It was always a peculiar joy to Jesus 

To seem to learn anything from His mother : 

Joseph would look on them such times entranced. 

I hear th' voice of Jesus of Nazareth singing 

In the house of His mother, and wonder 

If He sang that hymn here that He shall sing 

With the disciples,* and if the angels 

Ventured to sing that hour in Heaven, or stood 

On the scarce Heavenlier Hills to listen 

To the singing on the Hill of Nazareth. 

Now they all sing together : now Jesus 

And Joseph — th' melody, two male voices 

Evened together as the world never heard, 

Only the inhabitants on the hamlet 

When there was singing some eve on the Hill. 

And then Mary and Joseph would unite 

And ask Jesus to intone a solo, 

That they might listen that mellifluous 

And most superlatively adorative voice, 

Pouring out its only all-perfect praise, 

Distinct, rich, rapt, solitary, yet full, 

Like no other man's voice, exuding incense, 

Sweetness, tenderness, pathos, glories — 

Exalting, bedewing, embalming the ear 

That heard. Such were the sanctifications 

Of the Saint of Nazareth, that He shared 

With the Mystical Mother. The very voice 

Of the sweet Saviour-Man upon the earth 

* Matthew and Mark. 

■ a 



h 

248 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

When He conversed with any of His creatures 

Was fulfillment, sacrifice— a great prayer 

In the ears of His father in Heaven — 

And an embodiment of all melody — 

Of all the songs of mankind. The sweet hearts 

Of Mary and Joseph are illumed as Jesus 

Sings, as Jesus reads, stops and meditates, 

Walks praying, kneels, sits, works or reposes; 

By His few precious words, the rich silence ; 

By every act, by the look of Jesus — 

Are illumined. Their two hearts grow to Jesus. 

Their interior is perfect. Their lives 

Conform outwardly, also, in all things. 

What dear dispositions Mary and Joseph 

Must have had living as they did with Christ 

In that most calm uninterrupted repose, 

In that most familiar tranquillity of love — 

A depth of peacefulness, a sanctity 

To us, poor sinners, quite incomprehensible ; 

And yet which we somehow seem to feel, 

To see and gaze upon as we ponder 

Upon Nazareth, and understand how, 

In some measure, it must have existed. 

0, Saint Joseph ! there was never a man 
The intimate of God before : Shut in 
And secluded with Jesus and Mary, 
What privileges thou didst have ! the light, 
The beauty in the Face of Jesus, the grace, 
The goodness ; the reflection of the Lord 
Under the veils that thy sanctified eyes 
Saw in every glance, gesture, movement, 

* — * 



, * 

NAZARETH. 249 

Flowed into thy soul till thy heart became 

A well of pure grace, its translucent depths 

More like th' human heart of Jesus than that 

Of any other man, filling it full 

To th' golden curb — seven times purified 

In th' fires of love by which it was surrounded — 

Overflowing with spiritual sweetness. 

Sweet Saint, his calm soul enabled him to look 
Most adoringly to God while he moved 
Within the ring of the sublime " shadows 
And fires th' Divinity cast around Itself" 
In its earthly home. If Abraham's Place 
Was a fair shaded bower to the patriarch's, 
What must the rooms of that Holy House 
Where God tabernacled so many years 
Have been to Mary and to Joseph ? 

Few came to th' Hill in these last precious days ; 

God willed it so ; and neither Jesus made 

Visits, or His mother, or Joseph, or sought 

Company. Joseph was aged, too, his strength 

To labor had subsided, and he did 

No more work. Th' family subsisted now 

Chiefly upon the labor of Jesus. 

Contemplate Jesus laboring to support 

His mother and His aged foster-father — 

Laboring as a common and humble man 

To support His parents! Shall we ever 

After this neglect kindness to parents, 

Or to the aged ? Saint Joseph was old — 

A God laboring to provide for man ! 

- -4 



♦f* '* 

250 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Shall man ever after this deprecate 
Plain, homely, honest work ? 

Mary assisted 
Jesus in the support of the family, 
At her embroidery-frame and her wheel. 
0, blessed Saint Joseph, with such support ! 
How God doth take care of His loved ones ! 
How familiar is the Lord with His- friends! 

"St. Joseph, honored and served by the King and 
Queen of Heaven, pray for us ! " 

And no other man ever lived with God 

So familiarly ; this favor is solitary. 

It is a jewel no other man hath. 

It will shine in thy crown as a jewel 

That no other man hath. Who would not put 

All the other emoluments of earth 

Into one pyre and bargain in exchange 

For that kingly joy — that one great trophy, 

That one king-jewel for an immortal crown? 

0, reward so transcending on the earth 

And imperial in Heaven ! Man of eternity, 

Angels shall mark thee, a hundred million 

Of years from to-day, and a sweet murmur 

Of admiration run through their white ranks 

As thou walkest by — ' With whom the Lord lived 

While on the earth.' ' Lo ! the man the Lord labored 

For while on the earth ! ' Father of Jesus Christ — 

So called — who toiled for Him as a father 

When He was a Child, and whom the Lord loved, 

Learned to work from, and took care of by toil 

For him in his own trade, when he was old ! 

* 4 



NAZARETH. 251 

" Saints and angels work for Jesus 

Work with zealous prayers and deeds, 
Only one hath ever labored 
To supply His mortal needs." 

" Hands whose labor gained subsistence 
For the Child and Mother blessed, 
May our lips to you in Heaven 
Be with grateful homage pressed." — Ave Maria. 

Sunset. 

The palms bang as crowns full of jewels 
Over the little pink house — a golden pink — ■ 
Standing in the sunset. The old olive wood, 
The clump of fig-trees where Anna spun 
Before the door when Mary was a babe, 
The three tall palms in the lovely door-grounds, 
The pomegranate trees Joseph was pruning 
That day the kings came, every leaf on each tree 
As gold now. The whole Hill is as a prism 
Before our eyes. Sublime Hill ! how it glowed, 
This old spot of Heavenly favoritism, 
On that silver morning Mary was born ; 
That midnight of March almost thirty years 
Ago. Thou art marvelous again to-night, 
The reflection of sunset on thy brow, 
Or enringing of wings that invisibly burn 
In the air. It has been marvelous eight days. 
This is the ninth afternoon it has stood 
In these glows — fit and fair surrounding 
Of the close of the life of so great a saint. 
The death of a saint is a most true sunset. 

Saint Joseph is dying. Jesus and Mary 
Assist by the side of his couch — the pure face 

& 



252 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Of Raphael beside shines in happiness 
Upon the almost-ready Saint Joseph. 

Draws the end of Joseph, blessed Joseph, brightly near, 
'T is a house as Heaven for wonders and the angels gath- 
ered here, 

Hymning for the last nine days, 
Lays with which the angels praise : 
Often as the morning broke, often as the moonlights came 
Touched with burning fingers harps that almost were in 

flame. 
Mary heard it, Jesus heard, and the God-eyes graver 

smiled, 
And the singing our sweet Joseph, almost from the earth 

beguiled : 
And their wings allure him. When the noontides warm 

the sky, with their wings, 
Then the angels stoop to fan him while their statlier chorus 

rings 
Calm and deepened to the noon — Peace to thee, man, of 

a good and proven will ! 
And when vesper enters and the twilight wraps the Hill — 
happiest Hill ! 

Then the angels softened sing, 
Each with radiant folded wing, 
As though all night come to stay, 
Softer till the break of day. 

Draws the end of Joseph, blessed Joseph, sweetly near 
'T is a house as Heaven, overflowing with the graces here, 
From the opened Heavens rained and still raining, 
Closer now as fervent Joseph's fervent days are waning. 

* 



NAZARETH. 253 

Stands beside bis beaming angel, 
Most like man — almost an evangel — 
Guardian Josepb's guardian angel : 
Angel, Cbrist and Mary — tbree 
Dearest watcbers ! each on bended knee. 

Loftier now tbe serapbs sing — circling sing — 
Brighter, brighter grows the growing angel-ring; 
Daftest praise is wafted, soaring now to tbe Most High. 
Hark the change ! whispers now are heard, secrets of the 

sky, 
Benedictions for our saint, they the angels all allured are 

tending, 
Saint whose pious days in such keen fires of love are radiant 

ending, 

Allured to with the angels go, 
Allured to live while Mary lives below. 

Neighbors wandered meantime, wandered wondering to their 

door ; 
But a reverence stayed them, stayed them at this corridor :: 
None to pass essayed : only Mary went in, out and in, Mary 

and her Son : 
And the angels only with them tended our beloved, dying, 
one : 

Nine days dying — 
Sweetest dying ! 

Blessed days! a fragrance so delicious this dear habitation,, 
poor, pervades 

Tbat we know it only comes, only must, from those ever- 
fresh celestial glades: 
22 



•* 



254 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

A fragrance so delicious came, not only by it was consoled 
that dying man of God, 

But persons many, all around outside upon the sweet sur- 
rounding sod, 

Before the bright abode who watched and waited in the 
morning and in the evening tide, 

And in their beauteous reverence and in their gentle sorrow 
mourned outside ; 

Yes, mourned, poor villagers, the good man on the dear old 
Hill above their little hamlet dies, 

The Patriarch is leaving* his watch-tower o'er their homes 
and there are tears in all the hamlet's eyes. 

It was the day — the hallowed he died — his blissful death 

before, 
As all inflamed by love he raised his eyes on earth once 

more 

As brighter morning came, 
With tender, rapter flame : 
The sun had gone, the fair resplendent eve before — gone 

like a great cup down, 
Filled with some over-burning joy and cometh up the heav- 

enliest hill on earth to heavenliest crown : 

And yet Saint Joseph lies in that deep, burning prayer, 

His life, his strength by some close seraph-care, 

Or power divine, miraculous sustained, prolonged by 

Heaven and fed 
While he, great saint, in this ecstatic state, Almighty God 

beholds, nor dies ; 
Bedemption's plan surveys — the Incarnation in its depths 

that lies — 



*■ 



* 



NAZARETH. 255 

Its mysteries, the glorious Church that thence His bride 

will glorious spring, 
And the dear sacraments that round it seven-fold glowing 
ring : 

Then over him a deeper burning breeze 
Until the Divine Essence Joseph sees : 
Nor dare we now to trembling raise 
To that great, dying brow our gaze : 

0, holy Joseph ! God could not take thee from his sweet 

Son away, 
And Mary, precious spouse, until he gave such glorious 

sight to-day, 
To comfort thee to go, to break such cords as round thee 

bind, to leave thy God 
And Mary, heavenly wife, and be content to turn and lie, 

cold-folded down beneath the clod ; 
For this thy great trance falls and thee to show 
The land in which thy soul shall tarry while yet it waits 

the Christ below : 
The land where Father Abraham is made the lord, and 

gives a rest so deep and sweet, 
To all his priests and prophets and to patriarchal sons a 

comfort so complete, 
They cali it Father Abraham's Bosom in tranquil bliss and 

only sigh 
To see His face who comes — by promise comes — to ope the 

gates that bar the sky. 

Saint Joseph, from this ecstacy returned, 
His countenance with radiant beauty burned — 
His great, pure soul divinized by the view 
The grandeurs from the sight of God it drew. 



* . ; 

256 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

He speaks, sweet Mary, kneeling by and begs her blessing 
and her prayer : 

There was a reverent hush of songs, a silence conscious as 
the fragrance in the air 

And weeping, Mary bowed, beseeching Joseph now in 
meek address, 

As her dear spouse and head by holy marriage-band, her 
now to lastly bless ; 

And that dear dying man of God, whose face did now with 
Heaven shine, 

Blessed Mary as her sweet heart craved in words almost 
divine ; 

And Mary tender kissed the hand, the hand upraised as 
Joseph blest, 

And to salute for her the saints in Limbus made re- 
quest ; 

And then, kingly father of all lowly souls! grace of hu- 
mility ! 

Just Joseph dying only thinks to end his thyme-like life 
with thee, 

And pardon only asks and craves, O lovely to behold ! 

For all his faults as feeble man of earthly mould — 

As humble as the simplest child, seeks of his sweetest 
spouse — 

He in her service may committed have in her dear holy 
house, 

With voice that trembles only with the tender unction of 
its power, , 

Intreating her for him to intercede in his last waning mor- 
tal huur : 

Then taking of his blessed spouse his saintly leave, 

Mother of God, he said, I pray thee not to grieve! 

4* *J* 



NAZAKETH. 257 

He grandly said to her — 
Hush, my harp, nor stir! 
List but the old tradition word, 
List but the gifted mystic's chord. 

'Mother of God, my more than angel wife, 
Crown of my happy, abnegated life, 
Above all women blest, above all women chose, 
Of our frail race the solitary boast and rose, 
May angels and may saints extol your charity, 
And all the tribes of men your high estate, your dignity 
Exalt to praise 
All generation's days — 
The name of the Most High through you be known, 
Adorned and glorified, and round your throne, 
Through days eternal, Almighty God be praised, 
That you for our poor fallen race He spotless raised 
And lifted up and made so pleasing in His eyes, 
And keepeth for the throne that's nearest Him within the 

skies.* 
Thanks for the kiss I bear unto the grave on my poor hand, 
I hope to meet you, spouse, my sweet spouse, in the Heav- 
enly land.' 

To our Lord Jesus Christ our dying Saint then sweeter 

longing turned ; 
And Jesus on him looked and in his face the longing: 

brighter burned, 
And wishing to His Majesty to speak, in sweetness growiug 

more profound, 
He his last effort made, in vain, dear, dying Saint, to kneel 

upon the ground ; 

*From a translation from Mary de Agreda in "Ave Maria.' 7 
22* 



*" 



■M 



*- 



258 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

For Jesus rather willed to take him tenderly unto His 

breast — 
And there his dying foster-father's soul, his Priest and Son 

confest. 

{The last words of iSt Joseph.) 

'Son of the Eternal Father, Thou, my Lord, my God, 
My soul sinks at thy Feet in adoration to the lowest sod, 
Creator-Son, Redeemer of the world, give 
Thy benediction that my soul may live ! 
Pardon the faults, in Thy service, I committed have, 0, 

gentlest Lord ! 
And in Thy company the errors done, 0, Most Eternal 

Word ! 
I now confess to thee, I glorify thee, Lord, I render thee 
Eternal thanks with lowly heart, for having to such favor 

chosen me. 
By Thy own goodness, Lord, ineffable, I rather than another, 
Sweet Lord, was chose to be the spouse of Thy own Blessed 

Mother, 
Grant, Lord, Thy love, Thy glory, Thy vast consideration be, 
Theme of my gratitude through the unending years of Tby 

eternity ! ' 
And Joseph lay in silence then as stricken on his Maker's 

Breast, 
And the Redeemer-Priest, his dying foster-father lastly blest. 

' Go thou in peace,' He said, ' the grace be thine 
My Heavenly Father gives, the Holy Ghost and Mine. 
My greeting to my patriarch fathers bear. 
My weary, fervent father, go! 
My people they have waited long ; 
Their sighs to me perpetual flow : 

* ; * 



NAZARETH. 259 

My dear elect, 

I will protect ; 
Tell them that I have numbered every sigh 
And their redemption draweth nigh.' 

And Jesus' words are said . 

And Joseph leans his head 
A little heavier — there comes that glow 
On that dear face, the watchers know — 
' My spouse ! ' ' my Son ! ' soft as the dying dove — 
The softest, sweetest sigh of rapt, of fainting, dying love ; 
On Jesus' Breast 
His pillow-rest, 
A little heavier sinking of the brightened head — 
And Mary looks into his face. Saint Joseph, he is dead ! 
And Mary weeps a flood of tender tears upon her knees 

unrisen up — 
Her sweet head bowed upon his feet. It was a bitter cup, 
For never human spouse had been so gentle, kind and true, 
And it is hard for human hearts to bid a last adieu ! 

And Jesus, compassionating Mary weep, he weeps, 

And Joseph's dear, old, outworn body calmly sleeps — 

Just newly sleeps — while in his angel's arms 

His out-stepped soul in fresh immortal charms, 

Already stands and smiles in touched surprise 

To see such tears in Holy Jesus' sorrowing eyes: 

To see his dear Lord's tears fall fast on his dead head, 

To see sweet Mary's tears upon his poor feet shed : 

And dear Saint, though his eyes are open to the angels now, 

And he can look consoled upon each radiant brow, 

Although they circle round in glad triumphant bands, 

A moment he in precious indecision stands — 



■* 



fc 

260 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Jesus, Mary, Nazareth ; 0, what had Joseph not to leave ! 
And for his poor, old presence, they so piteous grieve. 

Saint Joseph's sweet soul paused and thought, his spirit 

lingering stood ; 
Butr Jesus has said go — the Lord has said — God's word is 

ever good — 
He bears His dear commands, His missive and His love, 

blessed trust ! 
T is only pity they should weep o'er his poor lifeless dust. 
Could he but stay to comfort them — to breathe the air 
That Mary hallows with her smile and Jesus with His 

prayer ; 
Then eager angel-bands surrounding, Joseph took — 
They could no longer wait — one farewell look 
To Jesus, Mary, in their sweet detaining tears, to Nazareth 

lawn, 
And Joseph, half-reluctant, is with the exultant angels 

gone. 

"St. Joseph, blessed with dying in the arms of. Jesus 
and Mary, pray for us ! " 

For His Burial. 

See Saint Joseph dead ! Our beautiful Saint ! 

Mary's blessed spouse ! Are not our hearts bereft ? 
That breast is silent, cold and dead 
Where Mary laid when Anna died her head 

And wept, 
Where Jesus of a Child had slept. 

And Jesus closed the dear eyes of Joseph. 
0, man whom the Lord Jesus closed his eyes 

* 



* 

NAZARETH. 261 

When he died and gave the last kiss !* The body, 

Beautiful, flexible, fragrant, covered, 

All but the face, with light, as a garment, 

As Jesus, Mary and the angels prepare 

It for burial, as the ceremonial 

Of the Jews. Jesus was careful to observe 

And honor the rites of the ancients. 

Jesus girded himself with a towel 

And poured the water out upon the turf, 

And in the sward where the water was poured 

Lilies had sprung up before the burial — 

The same seen in th' pictured hand of Joseph. 

Jesus arrayed Joseph for his burial 
By wrapping him in a cloak that Mary 
Had prepared for him and he never worn, 
And by placing a black staff in his hand, 
That denoted he had gone a long journey : 
The Lord would let no other hand do this 
For Joseph. But Zebedee and Salome 
Prepared otherwise the funeral. They were 
The most pious family in the hamlet, 
And had been th' most intimate with our Saint. 

Cleophas and Mary, his wife, came also 
Th' same evening, and others of th' family 
Of Joseph that were sent to when Mary 
Had divined Joseph was about to be taken ; 
But the messenger was sick in a village 
Upon the way for several days, and so 



♦Among the Jews, the nearest kinsman closed the eyes of the 
dead— a son for the father— and kissed the cheek. 



■* 



$ — _ — * 

262 THE SAINT OF NAZAEETH. 

They arrived not till after Joseph was dead. 
Joseph died Wednesday night as the sun 
Went down, and there was a light in the house 
More than the candles lighted when he died, 
And the light remained till he was buried. 

Mary had put on the dress and the veil 
For a widow, and knelt down by the bier ; 
And Jesus put on a garment of sackcloth, 
And knelt by the side of Mary. man 
For whom God appareled in sackcloth ! 
It was worth to die for that. Dead body 
Of my glorious Saint Joseph, shrouded 
And reposing there, how art thou honored ! 
And singularly, solitarily again. 
No other individual, not even Mary, 
Ever had the honor to have Jesus Christ 
Attend their funeral as a mourner, 
Attend their obsequies, follow their bier, 
Clothed in sackcloth. 

And the friends of Joseph 
Put on sackcloth before they entered the house 
In which he lay dead. And having entered, 
They knelt reverently by the bier and prayed 
As the custom for the dead ; and sat down 
To weep and lament with Mary and Jesus. 
Cleophas wept very much. Joseph was 
By Cleophas reverenced more as a father 
Than a brother, and he had always loved 
Him very deeply, though he knew not how well 
Until he had come to his house and found 
Him dead. But none of them wept as Soba; 

♦J, — —4* 



NAZARETH. 263 

And she and Mary Cleophas brought spices, 
Such as were used in those days for embalming : 
But Jesus said unto them, he hath no need; 
And when they perceived that a fragrance came 
From his body, they said he is already embalmed, 
So great were his virtues ; and they observed 
The peace and loveliness of his face 
And were consoled; but Jesus accepted 
The spices ; they had brought them out of love 
For their brother, and he laid them in his breast 
And at his feet, as others in His Breast, 
Will lay them for Him, and at His Feet: 
He sees it as He disposes these spices. 

And many came from the hamlet below 

To lament with Mary and Jesus ; but none 

Of these entered ; but when they approached near, 

They all stood without around the door 

And window and looked on in silence : 

Some sat down under th' eaves of the Cottage, 

But the room within was as a chancel — 

And th' bier of Joseph, it was as a shrine. 

Mary is a widow. Mary's mirried life 

Is ended, and she sits by the bier, ashes 

And sackcloth on her beauty, weeping 

The truest tears for Joseph. She had loved 

Saint Joseph. Never had woman before 

Had such a spouse. He was the choice of the Lord. 

His ring — the ring is now on her finger, 

Where Joseph, blessedest, angel-like spouse 

Had placed it. He is in Father Abraham's home, 

* 



264 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

This poor, precious body only lies here : 
The hands that have toiled for her, the feet ' 
That have journeyed with her, the lips that have 
Alway spake tenderly to her, the eyes 
And the whole countenance that have beamed 
On her : While her sweet will lies in the will 
Of God, Mary's tears fall very fast now, 
Thinking of all he had been to her and her Son. 

Joseph was buried and Jesus rolled the stone 
To the door of the cave — there being room 
To bury but one more within the cave, 
Joseph was buried therein : Mary wished 
To have it so — so much she loved Joseph — 
Knowing not how little she would have need 
Of a grave. Our beloved Joseph is buried! 
Our tears fall on the graves in Mary's garden. 

"St. Joseph, singularly beloved by Jesus and Mary, 
pray for us ! " 





Jospplj anb JParabisf . 




HE body of our Saint was deposited 
In the grave, but his soul was in a place 
Of sweet rest, we know. Behold Saint Joseph 
Conducted by angels, entering the plains 
Of Father Abraham! Behold Abraham, 
Adam, Seth, Mathusala, Noe, Sem, 
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph with his eleven brothers — 
A thousand of the tribe of each — come out 
To the uttermost verge of Paradise 
To meet and honor Saint Joseph's entry ! 
All the prophets walk before him singing 
Prophecies. David walks with the prophets — 
It is greater to be a prophet than king — 
And the countenances of the just shone, 
And they fell on their faces before Joseph, 
And lead him to his parents and the parents 
Of Mary, who inquired after their daughter 
And concerning Jesus : and Joachim made 
Joseph sit beside him upon his right hand : 
The humility of Joseph which followed 
Him in would have prevented, but Joachim 
Would not be prevented. ' Thine eyes have seen 5 " 
Him ! he said, thy arms embraced Him, thy feet 



4 



g» i 

266 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

For Him walked. Blessed is the man in whose house 

He hath eaten bread ! Joseph hath toiled for 

And given bread to Messiah — his fathers bow 

Down unto him. No man ever provided 

For God before. And Joseph sat in the midst 

Of the fathers, and his parents enrapt, sat 

Upon one hand and th' parents of Mary 

Upon the other, with whom was Zachary, 

The priest, who had given him th' hand of Mary ; 

And the heart of all burned in Paradise 

As Joseph talked of Jesus and taught 

The secret of th' incarnation and told 

To them he doubted — with blame to himself, 

Though none other blamed him — and how God 

Removed his doubts ; and of Bethlehem 

And Egypt and Nazareth, ho conversed : 

The first apostle in Egypt, he became, 

Also, the first apostle in Limbus ; 

And Joseph did much in these three or four years 

To prepare the fathers for the coming 

Of Jesus. 

The dear Babes of Bethlehem, 

Their innocent brows encrowned with flowers, 

Hovered around Joseph, and Saint Simeon 

When not by the side of his old friend, Zachary, 

Lingered with the most serene Saint Joseph, 

And Anna who brought Mary up in th' temple — 

Who never tired to hear Joseph converse 

Of her, and to whom Joseph never tired 

To speak of Mary. Thou art detained in 

A delightful company, 0, Joseph ! 

Only there is such a longing for Jesus 



*■ 



* 



JOSEPH AND PARADISE. 267 

And Mary it would have consumed his heart, 
Only it was the heart of a spirit. 

At length when the Baptist was beheaded 

And his soul entered Abraham's Bosom, 

He told yet more of Jesus in the world : 

How that he baptized in the river Jordan 

And Jesus constrained him ; and when he made known 

This, Zachary, his father, uplifted his arm 

And blest his son that he had baptized the Christ — 

A grand consoling sight in Paradise, 

That suddenly transfigured old priest giving 

Th' benediction unto that prophet son, come 

Into th' midst of his fathers, bearing fresh 

Upon the white garment of his spirit 

The precious red stain of fidelity. 

Elizabeth, following the steps of her son, 

Precious spirit! other new inhabitants 

Coming in, all they in Abraham's land, 

Were kept informed of all Jesus did 

Among the people ; His miracles, sermons 

And parables were retold among the fathers. 

Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, came and staid 

Until the third day ; and talked of Jesus — 

That if He had come, he should not have died ; 

And as upon the third day he discoursed 

With great sweetness, all they in Paradise 

Heard a voice that reverberated through every shade, 

And that same moment Lazarus arose, 

His face suddenly beaming, and passed out, 

And all in Abraham's Bosom marveled ; 



*' 



268 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

For it was a land from which none went out ; 

And they had joy when they witnessed His power 

Over Limbus ; for Joseph knew the Voice 

That had called Lazarus forth : and it came 

That the spirit of a just man entered, 

Few days after, who communicated, 

He had that day seen Jesus at supper 

In Lazarus' house, whose countenance shone 

As of a man in the glory of youth, 

Only most holy. 

Moses and Elias 
Disappeared suddenly one afternoon — 
Such time as was afternoon upon the earth — 
And when they had come back in the evening, 
Related the transfiguration and told 
How the Jews were stirred up for His blood. 



PASSION TIDE IN LIMBUS. 

The prophets in the mountains of Paradise bewailing the 
Christ — Isaias in a mountain, solitary above the others — All the 
fathers at the foot of the mountains — Jeremias gone down into '* 
pit below the people. 

Isaias. 

"A tender Plant" — " a Root from thirsty ground " — " who 
hath believed ? " 

Man, woman, child, all things a beauty from His face re- 
ceived, 

And they rejected Him! "No sightliness, that we de- 
sire ! " that Face so sweet ! 

They turn from it! "they smote" — "they dig His hands 
and they have dug His feet ! " 



♦J* 



■* 



PASSION TIDE IN LIMBUS. 269 

(From all the shades below.) 
"Kyrie eleison ! " "Kyrie eleison ! " 

ISAIAS. 

His look is bidden and despised and we esteem Him not! 

All we as sheep astray ! the Shepherd by His sheep forgot J 

For our iniquity His wounds ! the iniquity of us upon Him 
lain ! 

Bruised for our sins ! we by His bruises healed ! the Shep- 
herd for the lost sheep slain ! 

(From the shades.) 

" Kyrie eleison ! " "Kyrie eleison ! " 

Isaias. 
For the wickedness of my people ! the loving Shepherd 

still- 
Taken away ! offered because it was His own lofty will ! 
A lamb before the shearers dumb ! As a sheep unto the 

slaughter lead ! 
Giveth the ungodly for His death ! the rich for His burial- 
bed ! 

(From the shades.) 

''Kyrie eleison ! " "Kyrie eleison ! " 

Jeremias. 
(Uplifting himself to his middle from the mire of the 
deep pit.) "Shall I not visit for these things saith the 
Lord f shall I not take revenge on such a nation ?" " Jeru- 
salem hath grieviously sinned." . . . "0, all ye that jiass 
by attend and see if there be sorrow like unto my sorrow ! 
. . . How hath the Lord covered with obscurity the Daughter 
of Sion ! . . . How he hath cast down from Heaven to 



*■ 



270 THE SAINT OF NAZAKETH. 

earth the Glorious One of Israel ! He hath Jellied all that 
was fair to behold in the tabernacle of the Daughter of Sion ! 
To ivhat shall I compare thee, to what shall 1 liken thee, O 
Virgin Daughter of Sion I for great as the sea is thy deso- 
lation ! Who shall heal thee f " 

{From the shades above.") 
"Kyrie eleison f ,r "Kyrie eleison / " 

Jekemias, 

"I am the man that see my poverty T' . . . "Against me 
he hath turned and turned all the day long /" . . . He hath 
made my fetters heavy. . . He hath shut out my prayer f 
I am made a derision to all my people, he hath filled me 
.with bitterness, . . The ivormwood and the gall ! " 

{From the shades above.) 
"■Kyrie eleison ! " "Kyrie eleison ! " 

Jeremias. 
"He shall sit solitary and hold His peace because He hath 
taken it upon Himself. He shall give His cheek to him that 
striketh Him. He shall be filled with reproaches. . . . My 
life is fallen into the pit and they have lain a stone over 
me!" " How is the gold become dim ! " "It is better with 
them that are slain with the sword / " " They were defiled 
with blood and when they could not help stepping in it, they 
held up their skirts ! " 

Ezechial. 
{From the mountains — by the side of the prophet the 
creature with the four faces and the four wings — looking to the 
northward, to the eastward, and to the southward and the 
westward ) — Ezech. i, 4-14. 



PASSION TIDE IN LIMBUS. 271 

''Strike with thy hand and stamp with thy foot, thus saith 
the Lord, alas! for all the abominations of the evils of the 
house of Israel!" "The diy of slaughter! Behold the 
day ! " " The day it is come ! Destruction is gone forth ! 
The Rod hath blossomed ! " . . . "Alas! Alas! 0, Lord, 
God! and thou Son op Man mourn with the breaking of thy 
loins and with Thy bitterness sigh before them. The sword 
is sharpened and furbished." . . . "Thou remotest the 
sceptre of my Son — Thou hast cut down the Tree — 7 will 
come and cover the heavens when Thou shalt be put out." 

Jeremias. 
"Our days are fulfilled ! Our end is come! The breath 
of our mouth, Christ the Lord is taken in our sins ! " 

Joel. 

A day of darkness and a day of gloom ! 

A day of clouds — of whirlwinds and a tomb ! 

Whose like is not since the beginning's bloom, 

Nor shall be after till the knell of doom : 

The heavens are moved — the sun — the moon — 

The stars are dark — and it is night at noon ! 

" And the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent." — Mat. xvii, 
51. 

The mountains of Purgatory tremble. 

Nahum. 
" The earth hath quaked at his presence. What have ye 
devised against the Lord? " 

Sophonias. 
"Be silent before the face of the Lord, God! The Lord 
hath prepared a Victim ! The voice of the day of the Lord 



■* 



272 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

is bitter. Woe to the provoking and the doomed city ! " 
" She hath not hearkened to the Voice.'''' . . . "She drew 
not near to her God.'''' 

Miciieas. 

0, my people ! My people ! What have I done 
That thou shouldst forsake me and turn from my Son ? 

I will reason : answer thou me, 

Who is a God like unto Thee, 

Who taketh away the stain of thy birth ? 

The Holy Man has perished out of the earth ! 

Because that I am fallen I shall arise ; 

And with me, my people will raise to th' skies. 

Daniel. 

{Remote within the mountains — seated upon the ground — 
his head sprinkled with ashes, and his garments — his loins 
girt with black — his raiment rent — shades of lions couched 
around.) 

"Christ shall be slain? The piople that deny Him shall 
not be His." 

Barucu. 

How happeneth it, 0, wicked Israel 
That thou art counted down with those for hell ? 
That thou hast left the living Fountain — 
The paths unto my Holy Mountain ? 
God hath brought mourning great to me : 
This is our God : there shall no other be : 
Go ! Go your way, I seek alone his favor, 
The mercy of our Everlasting Saviour! 
Osee. 
"He will raise us up after two days, and on the third day 
He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight ! " 



■* 



"* 



PASSION TIDE IN LIMBUS. 273 

Habacdc. 

" The law is torn in pieces ! the ivicked prevaileth against 
the Just ! Wast thou not from the beginning, 0, Lord, my 
God! My Holy One — and we shall not die. Thou hast 
appointed Him for judgment and made Him strong for cor- 
rection. Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil. Why lookest 
thou upon them that do unjust things and holdeth thy peace 
tvhen the wicked devoureth the Man that is more just ! but l 
will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in God my Jesus." 

Zaciiarias. 

Shout! Shout for joy ! 0, Daughter of Jerusalem ! Exult 

and sing, 
The Just, a Saviour cometh, thy beautiful and lowly 

King ! 
He rides upon the ass — the humble foal — ye prisoners of 

wasted hope, 
He comes the bars of prison-holds to break, the darkest 

doors to ope. 

Howl fir tree for the cedar fallen ! They have pierced 

Him — the Just! 
The strong anointed one is taken in your sins — His blood 

is in the dust! 
They shall look on Him whom they have pierced — on His 

Side ! tears shall prevail ! • 
They shall mourn over Him as one mourneth over an only 

son — they shall wail 
As the manner is over the death of the firstborn — they 

shall keep 
His wounds before them — the family of David apart shall 

weep ! 



♦$» ' 'I ^1* 

274 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Oh, what are these wounds in the midst of Thy friends that 

we see ! 
With these was I wounded in the house of them that 

love me! 
Awake, sword ! against my Shepherd and the sheep 

shall fly ; 
The sheep shall scatter from His side when woes shall draw 

unto Him nigh ! 

"His Feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of 
Olives ivhich is over against Jerusalem ! " 

{David and all the people at the foot of the mountains.') 

David. 
" They gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave 
me vinegar for drink ! " 

All the People — "Miserere Domine ! " 

David. 

' ' 0, my God ! my God ! look upon me ! hast thou for- 
saken me ! " 

People — "Miserere Domine!" "Miserere Domine!" 
David. 
"/ am a worm and no man ! the reproach of men and 
the outcast of the people ! " 

People — "Miserere Domine!'''' "Miserere Domine!" 

David. 

"All they that saw me hath laughed me to scorn: they 
have spoken with the lips and wagged their heads ! " 

"He hoped in the Lord, let Him deliver Him ; let them 
serve Him ; seeing he deiighteth in Him ! " 

♦ fr ' 4* 



4 

PASSION TIDE IN LIMBUS. 275 

People — "Miserere Domine ! " "Miserere Domine ! " 

Isaias. 

" Who is He that cometh from Edom? with dyed garments 

from Bozrah ! ,J "I have trodden the wine-press alone /'' 

" Blood is sprinkled iqion my garments and I have stained 

all my apparel ! " 

David and all the people. 
"Miserere I " ' 'Miserere ? " 

A soid from Jerusalem — 
The ghosts turned to him who has come in — 
Telling Christ as he left was being mocked 
Aud lead with derision through the streets. 

The pit situate below Limbus began 
To heave ; and a demon arose and stood 
Upon the waves of the lake that burned 
And told in the irony of hell of one 
Of His good disciples who had betrayed 
Their great Deliverer ; and as he derided 
Judas tumbled in with bowels gushing out 
And the pit shook with hisses — hell's laughter — 
Grown twice hell with and over Judas — 
Sulphurous fires seething, devils groaning ; 
Hell breaking up — th' nether lakes disgorging — 
As the unpent crater of a volcano 
Threatening some doomed city, belching nearer 
And nearer up to the great dividing wall — 
Breaking against the deep walls and strong gates, 
Mounting each higher than the other up 
To inundate and sweep down Paradise 
To its depths. 



*■ 



276 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

First liour of the crucifying : 

The invasion growing more and more awful: 

The angels come no more to the fathers — 

Communication cut off from earth and Heaven — 

The land of Father Abraham lit only 

From th' pit — its seven hells boiling higher up : 

Limbo distraught — a multitude no man 

Can enumerate with David on their knees 

Wailing miserere — the prophets renewing 

Lamentations — Joseph standing solitary, 

Looking to the earth — a great ball of night — 

Moving not since th' sweat was blood on that Face 

Pressed to the cold earth — seeing Gethsemene — 

Jerusalem, Jesus being lead through bound — 

Into the two halls — Caiphas — Pilate — 

Hell's halls both, filled with His torturers — 

Glorious Christ! subjugate to death, scorned 

In each ; — horrified to trance, looking off 

To the scourging-place and crowning-place — 

Not a blood-shedding, not an indignity, 

From the vile wretch who had spat in His Face 

To those who wag their heads as He hangs impaled, 

Not a sigh in His agony escaping 

That fixed, concentrate, enlarged seeing, 

Those keen distended ears ; — grown mightily — 

Lifted tall in his anguish for Him in the hands 

Of whipmen. O.Joseph! seeing Jesus whipped ! 

On that mountain seeing Jesus the Three Hours ; 

Lire, bloody, distract to thy long-pained eyes, 

Still seeing His cross ! — two ugly crosses — 

Blots upon His Calvary ! — ignominy 

With Him ! What a pain that He should die — 



* 

PASSION. TIDE IN L.IMBUS. 277 

Th' Divine and sublime Messiah — with thieves ! 

0, base ! base ! most malignant sin ! 0, mad ! mad ! 

O'er distraught, suicidal Jews! How Joseph 

Saw it! His heart saw it! His own Hebrew nation — 

His people ! How Joseph felt it who loved 

His own race and Jerusalem so well ! 

EIow he felt it who loved Jesus so well ! 

And Mary so well — How he felt seeing 

Jesus crucified by His own people ! 

Oh, it did seem if he were there he could stay 

Or withhold their madness; though all the while,. 

He knows better — the hardness of their hearts — 

That He must die ! It was what He came for. 

Third Hour — 
Joseph is left alone upon the plain. 
The mountains of Paradise are clombed, 
The top of every hill covered, pressed 
And converging to the top more and more — 
Paradise threatened with inundation — 
Solitary grand Saint Joseph standing, 
Hell stirred at thy feet. 

The walls that divided 
And separated the elect and reprobate 
Were deep. It was a brave spirit would stand 
And look down the dizzy depths when the pits 
Were most still. Sometimes John the Baptist would 1 ,,. 
And the brave old King David, who had been 
A warrior upon the earth and had sent 
Multitudes of the enemies of the Lord 
Down there. Hell was far beneath those deep walls 
Of adamant. The united hells lift up 

24 
& 



¥4' 



278 THE SAIST OF NAZARETH. 

Mountains of fire. Wilder and wilder grows 
The concussion — darkness — explosions — flame 
And smoke. A sulphurous flame spews over 
The deep barriers — another follows. Wave 
Follows wave, bloody and blue-burning, 
Up over the deserted and shuddering plain 
Where the frigid Saint Joseph stands. He sees 
It not. The red fire-wave almost licks 
His naked feet. 

How long it is to wait! 
And yet, he never thought how long, but stood 
His great soul held, patient as in the flesh, 
His strained brow enlarged by sight of the thorns 
On that awful Brow uplifted in the air, 
Holding himself and held to see each throe 
Upon the Tree, exact, and honored God, 
Albeit the form and figure of that cross 
Lies in his heart as in a mirror cast, 
Or rather as a cut in lead, heavy and cold, 
Freezing into the marrow of his spirit. 
Oh, ghost of Joseph ! One hangs there to bleed 
That once a sweet and tender Babe thy arms 
Did as a father fold ; and she, sad spouse ! 
At the foot of that dark rood her white face ! 
To stand there, and you prevented to stand 
By her! He who shared Bethlehem and Egypt! 
You not to stand by her in her sorrow ! 
To know that Jesus and Mary suffer, 
And not to be able to console either ! 
Not even so much as to compassionate. 
Joseph is crowning his purgatory — 
The holiness of God and Heaven ! Joseph 



*■ 



PASSION TIDE IX LIMBUS. 27U 

Was such a saint that we had well supposed 

lie would not have any sharp preparing ; 

So sweet, we saw him die, until th' vision 

Of our Saint in Linibus opened up : 

Purgatory shaking 'twixt earth and hell, 

Earth rent by the throes of that condensed dole, 

Hell heaving, an ocean of fire around — 

Hell boarding the foundations of Linibus, 

Overtopping the high walls — one red roar 

Over the plains — Joseph in his wofulness — 

Sublimated immobility — standing — 

Looking toward that one Cross — the red sea 

Of hell approaching — rushing on to deluge 

Saint Joseph — to sweep away that one man, 

The foundations of the nether deeps broken up ; 

The wreck of the first creation, all the wrecks 

Of the earth, fire-waves, hell-men and dragons, 

All in one great lashed sea of lead-white heat ; 

In every spout of flame, every wheel of fire, 

The glittering eye, the claw of a fiend — 

Ghosts of murder redness — sin-blackness — 

Hissing tracts of smoke — columns of burning sulphurs 

Crushing on — the foremost fire-paw reaching 

To his foot — recoiled — hell fallen on itself — 

Shrank from that bare foot — flame lashing flame — 

Gnashing itself — bayed — balked by one Saint — 

By Saint Joseph — by that one, broad, white foot 

Upon the sands — gathering to come again — 

Determined for that naked foot on the sands ; — 

The earth sudden cleft by a shaft as fire — 

The unlooked-for soul of Jesus upon the breast 

Of Saint Joseph — in his arms— appearing 



<* 



*_ 

280 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

To Joseph first, coming straight from the cross 

To the sweet, old foster-father's bosom. 

Soul of the torn Form that hangs on that cross, 

Flashing from crown to sole : Joseph gathering 

Dimensions — rising up to colossial stature — 

As a great statue of molten, clear glass, 

As some tower being illuminated — 

A tower transparent from base to height — 

As the light arises, widens and spreads, 

Flashing up its crystal heights and dimensions, 

Increasing in the light instantaneous, grand ; 

The souls in Abraham's trembling Bosom — 

All the souls coming down from the mountains, 

Pressing to the feet of the great statue — 

All th' groves of the dead as th' earth in sunrise — 

Light flashed along its farthest shore. Hell slunk 

To its old depths. Hell was seized with tremblings 

And sank lower seven times than its old pits. 

A Form, the burning fires of the Deity, 
Within the arms, upon the bosom of Joseph. 
Joseph stood with his arms outspread in the form 
Of a cross, Jesus' soul flashed within and hung 
Upon this cross. 0, soul of irrepressible light! 
Just fresh loosed from the nails ! The Redeemer 
In His primal, glad victoriousness — 
In the glow of a victor — the new Saviour 
In th' first happiness of so great redemption, 
Come bearing in the new-born salvation, 
Embracing his dear old nursing-father : 
Joseph grown very magnified — two forms — 
One as th' sun unveiled, the other the moon 



•+4 



* — - — - — . — * 

JESUS IN PARADISE. 281 

Kefilled from the sun — Joseph's large spirit 

All light from the bright spirit of Jesus — 

His face, his arms, his garments, filled with light — 

Dripping— the airs of Paradise burn around — 

" Thy light shining upon all ; " but the most 
Upon those who had been eminent in life 
For holiness — John the Baptist and others. 
0, soul of Jesus ! just escaped from the cross, 
Enclasping th' Saint of Paradise, all th' fathers 
Both at Thy Feet and at his feet prostrate — 
Embracing the feet of both in their gladness ! 
Picture too burning for such tepid words ! 
0, poor, human brush with subject divine ! 
That I could sing as some of Thy children, 
Lord ! that I could sing as Thy Bernard now ! 
Let us drop down in our nothingness — let 
Us adore — " Venite adoremus ! " 

" Deum de deo, Lumen de lumine!" 
In the arms of the happy Saint Joseph ! 

St. Joseph, first of the patriarchs, pray for us . 



JESUS IN PARADISE. 

AND Jesus remained yet with the fathers 
Until the third morning ; and the Spirit 
Of Jesus was luminous above description ; 
And no one durst ask Him any questions 
But Joseph : he asked concerning Mary, 
And Jesus told him how precious she kept 
His memory, how tender she still mourned ; 

24* 



** 



* _ — —^ 

282 " THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And her faithfulness to Him in His pa.ssion; 
How she had stood at the foot of His cro.-s, 
Which Joseph knew, hut it gave it sweetness 
To hear Jesus rehearse it and honor 
It and unfold it before the fathers : 
And Joseph leaned down and kissed His Hands — 
His Side — he fell down and kissed both bright Feet 
Where pierced in the flesh. The soul of Jesus 
Had the same wounds, only they were shining 
In light. 

I have but few things more to tell : 
I feel like one whose mission is ended : 
O, that it would make one soul better know 
Saint Joseph — love the great Saint Joseph more ! 
I feel like one whose book is written : 
And yet how much more might be said, that glad 
And holy twilight land of Paradise 
Is so beautiful with Jesus in it — so bright — 
So like unto some heavenly morning land — 
Dread, half-way place betwixt us and Heaven. 

Let us remain and see Jesus receiving 
His saints. Jesus salutes His Grand-Parents, 
The father and mother of Mary. He looked 
On them and they came to kneel at His Feet: 
And He lifted them up and acknowledged 
Them and embraced them as His ancestors. 
Moses and all the prophets and Aaron 
And all the priests, David and all the kings 
Fell down and sang a Te Beum to Jesus ; 
But most exultant — his face as the lightning, 
His ardors as the lightning — was the Baptist, 

>i < * 



-» _*J 

JESUS IN PARADISE. 283 

Who had not until now ceased for to preach 
Of Hiin who was to come in Paradise — 
At th' doors of th' prisons in purgatory : 
And Jesus walked through Paradise, the souls 
Of all His saints falling down to adore 
Wheresoever He came, and to sing the song 
Of the Lamb that John afterward heard 
In Patmos — Saint Joseph on his right hand — 
And no one came so close unto Jesus. 

' Holy Joseph, minister of the great council, pray 

for us." 

' Holy Joseph, powerful support of the Church, pray 

for us." 

Jesus preached in purgatory, and come 

To th' inner prisons, all had arisen up ; 

And they fell not down as yet to His Feet, 

They feared so much. They were souls that had sinned 

Most; so that when in His plenitude the Christ 

Stood before them they feared lest the fathers 

Should be taken and they yet left for a time ; 

But while Jesus stood before them and spake 

In His compassicn, the soul of a thief 

Who had that moment expired on the cross, 

Flashed in and fell at the Feet of Jesus 

And elapsed the Feet of the Lord that appeared 

As wounded in his own crucified hands, 

And kissed them over and over again 

And again in his ecstatic rapture ; 

And Jesus raised him up and he confessed 

To the prisoners all his sins and the mercy 

Of Jesus : how he was crucified the same hour ; 

* * 



* — — — — $ 

28-1 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

And he showed unto them his hands and feet ; 

And all they in prison fell down and adored 

Jesus ; and as they fell down the third time 

Their chains fell off; and there were none left 

Whom Jesus had not pardoned, and he remained 

With his dear people over the Sabbath ; 

And it had not seemed unto Saint Joseph 

Or any one in Paradise as it were 

An hour, so sweet it was to be with Jesus : 

The presence of Jesus was such a glory 

And such a consolation in Paradise. 

But as the third day drew to the dawning, 

Jesus spake to them of His resurrection, 

And they all began to be sorrowful ; 

But He bade them be of cheer, and as th' day 

Began to break, went out sudden and Godlike 

As He came, and all were in expectance 

And anxiety for about forty days. 



w* 



■* 



■* 



Jospplj flnh Ipfon. 



J.sceftSi'ott, morning from Olivet. 

JESUS leading up the fathers from Limbus — 
Th' ' ' prisoners of hope " from the strongholds — 
All in shining chariots and garments — 
The glory of those that follow the wheels 
Of His chariot — the glory of the clouds filled 
With angels round about our ascending Lord. 

The beautiful, Blessed Mother is knelt 
Upon the high brow of the bright mountain, 
Seeing Jesus in a sky full of saints — 
Upon th' right hand of Jesus St. Michael, 
Standard-bearer, supported by St. John 
The Baptist — and Saint Joseph. 

Mary saw 
Joseph with Jesus ascending into Heaven. 
The Gates of Pearl have opened for Saint Joseph. 
Mary has seen her dear spouse admitted 
Into Heaven. Saint Joseph has entered Heaven ! 
The one fit place to leave Saint Joseph in! 
0, Heaven ! Heaven ! when shall we be left 
In that place! 0, consummation meet! 
For the life of Saint Joseph, the great, the good, 



•'■Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart. Jesus, Mary, 
Joseph, may I die in your blessed company " — and go to you in 
Heaven ! 

285 



— * 



*. . . 

286 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

PEACEFULNESS. 

Reflections on what we have considered in the most sweet Life 
of Saint Joseph — and of the spirit of Nazareth. 

A FEW more words lastly on peacefulness, 
Which seems to have been the characteristic 
Or leading trait in our so eminent Saiut, 
The spirit of his sweet devotion, the sky 
Under which his virtues all grew. It was 
The tender haze of that serene atmosphere 
Which naturally and supernaturally surrounded 
Nazareth. Peacefulness inclosed Nazareth. 
It hung over it, it stooped to it, it dwelt 
In it, pervaded all its bowers and fields 
And pastures. It sprang up one midnight in March 
And grew like a soft, starry blossom by th' side 
Of the cradle of the young Prince of Peace, 
Who had descended to the earth most fair 
And still. Mary was the embodiment 
Of it — the Virgin of Peace — and the man 
In whose paternal arms was laid the Child 
Who had no father but the Eternal, 
Seemed only another name for it. Joseph 
Seemed but another word to express peacefulness. 
It was in the kitchen of Anna and seemed 
Always to flow from th' chamber of Mary. 
The shop of Joseph, where Joseph and Jesus 
Wrought silently together, was divinely 
And transcendently its favorite place. 
It was in the vineyard — under the palms — 
Under the line of old pomegranate trees — 

* ■ 



^ 

PEACEFULNESS. 287 

Around the tomb of Joachim and Anna 

In the rocks — in the dear old praycr-placo 

On the hillside — the very kine feeding 

In th' pastures had a look of it in their faces, 

And all the flocks it fed with. It was in 

Th' garments that hung round Jesus and Mary. 

Saint Joseph is most preciously peaceful : 

It is th' light, th' breath of his spiritual bloom, 

In which his graces so peculiarly hidden 

With God developed. 

0, that I could picture 
Nazareth ! that some one who loves Nazareth 
Could, in its peacefulness those eighteen years 
After the Holy Family came to it back 
From th' exile and Egypt till Joseph's death — 
Nazareth's self, its lawns, turf, trees, house, sky. 

I r.emember a day in the beautiful June, 

We had written within our chamber 

In the morning of our Saint's engagement 

To our Lady in th' magnificent old temple, 

And at noon walked in th' garden beneath th' trees 

Deepest down in the last path. The garden 

That day was crowded with roses. We saw 

The crimsons fresh blown, rose-sweetnesses came 

To us, through a nimbus of bloom we saw 

Nazareth — the vision of Mary's fair home 

Rose before us, clear — beautiful — distinct — 

So palpable it stood, the boughs parted 

For us to look in, we said in our joy — 

Our extravagance, what a field to paint ! 

The most beautiful, hill and garden th' world 

, ^ 



288 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

Ever saw ! and we dreamed that we could do 
It ; the vision was so real ; and it seems 
To us now, we saw very much that day 
What Nazareth must have been when Jesus 
" And Mary and Joseph resided there — 
That sacred and peaceful land upon the Hill 
Of Frankincense an Orient summer noon 
Shut up and sealed with holy hiddenness; 
With Jesus walking in it with Mary 
And Saint Joseph its gardener. We doted 
Over its greennesses — for velvetness, 
Such grasses and verdureness, growing not 
Elsewhere on the earth — flowers that otherwhere 
Had no such tints and odors of delights; 
And the eye full delighted could measure 
Its lawns stretching away in quietudes — 
Nazareth palms, spreading their fan-leaves 
For Mary and the Child Jesus to sit under — 
Struck, still in reverence, Nazareth fig trees, 
Rich in ripe figs — sacred sycamores, fair firs — 
Pomegranates whose red apples Mary plucked 
To lay on Joseph's plate — Nazareth jassamines, 
Nazareth roses, Nazareth lilies, Nazareth thyme, 
Nazareth grapes, melons, gourds — the orchards, 
The golden olives falling — the barley-ricks — 
Old sleek, white Assinus in the still pasture — 
The Nazareth doves feeding in the morning 
On the turf before the door, or brooding 
At noon in th' crevices of th' rocks ; and all 
Its earthly and spiritual peacefulness ; 
The near and th' dissolving views of Nazareth, 
The vistas in and out from Nazareth, 



«5«- 



PEACEFULNESS. 289 

The little house and the Nazareth shop, 

The Nazireth carpenter and the Divine Son 

Of the Blessed Virgin — the fair disguised 

Or hidden Prince — the dear Prince of Peace come 

To the world so sweet, dwelling in the world 

So tranquil as to be quite unsuspected ; 

The Peace-Prince, the Queen and Mother of Peace, 

The Patriarch of Peace, moving peacefully 

Over the peaceful landscape. 

We looked in 
And saw Joseph at work among the vines — 
Jesus and Mary beneath the trees. Our hearts- 
Leaped, we saw this spot so much lovelier 
Than any garden of the Hesperides. 
There had never been such a life before 
Upon the earth as either the life of Mary 
Or Joseph, not to mention th' adorable life 
Of Jesus. It is not only the most hidden 
But the most lovely part of Mary's life — 
Those, deep, waveless, irradiated years, 
Between Egypt and Calvary, while she lived 
In such sweet obscurity to the poor world 
Around her — in such celestial humility 
With her Incarnate Son while He grew up 
To the stature of His perfect, divine manhood. 
And the life of Joseph was untranslateable : 
The ripeness and loveliness of his peacefulness 
Developed more and more, till he went bent — 
He was so humble — like a tree heavy-fruited,. 
The fleshly vails consumed by the sweet Area 
Of the hidden Charity in his house, 
Until he was not — having died for love — 



♦±»" 



4 



* . _* 

290 THE SAINT OF NAZARETH. 

If any one could have a gift in Heaven 

I think I would be an artist and paint 

Nazareth at the time when Joseph brought 

Home his young Blessed Virgin spouse — the House 

Of the Annunciation — the Christmas-cave 

And Egypt when my young Lord with Mary 

And Joseph were in it — especially 

Nazareth when my Lord and His mother 

And Saint Joseph lived there; and most, 0, most! 

Jesus visiting Joseph in Limbus — 

When our Saint stood up in beatitude, 

The glory on his brows — the majesty 

In his appearance — Jesus in his arms — 

A-down his sweeping robe floods of glory: 

For which this book was conceived ; so to put 

In it this picture of Joseph and Jesus — 

Suggested perhaps by th' Blessed Virgin, 

And still we cry at th' end help ! Who can paint 

Nazareth ! Who can paint Jesus ! Who can paint 

Mary or Joseph ! Who can paint a saint ! 

Such a magnificent saint as Saint Joseph 

Is! He who can limn Paradise. Words have 

Rainbow shades, but none bright enough. There are 

No Etruscan colors brilliant enough 

To paint the Serene Patriarch of Paradise. 

Blessed be God for Jesus! Blessed be God 

For Mary ! Blessed be God for Saint Joseph ! 

Blessed be God for faith ! Amen. 



«$t <£ 



* *, 



^LnnofaMons. 



SAINT JOSEPH has always been represented in tradi- 
tion as an aged man; says Faber, considering his prob- 
able age at the time of his marriage : 

" In the controversy about St. Joseph's age, I must admit that 
the majority of great names are on the side of his being in the 
prime of life, between thirty and forty. This is the opinion of 
Gerson, Vigerius, Theophilus, Raynaudus, Esselius, Baronius, 
Suarez, "Vasques, Capisucchius, Serry, Sandinus, Salianus, Tor- 
nielli, Toletanus, De Castro, Trombelli, Isidore, Isolanua, Ber- 
nadino di Busto. The Apocryphal Gospels, St. Epiphanius, 
Cedrenus, Nicephorus, with antiquity generally, and especially 
ancient pictures, represent St. Joseph as quite old. Gerson feels 
the difficulty of the ancient pictures, but says in his usual and 
quite characteristic way of referring to development in doctrine 
as the explanation of everything, that painters did this purposely 
because the tenet of the perpetual virginity of our Blessed Lady 
was not well rooted in the minds of the ruder faithful. This re- 
ply is quoted with applause by Kaflfaello Maria, the Carmelite, 
in his very full book on St. Joseph. The habit of contemplating 
St. Joseph as the shadow of the Eternal Father has led me in- 
stinctively to take the side of antiquity in this dispute. Without 
tradition the text of Isaias lxx, 5, is hardly convincing. The 
opinion in favor of St. Joseph's youth makes him more than 
double our Lady's age ; and this would make him seventy when 
he died ; as traditions about his death seem only to hesitate be- 
tween a little while before our Lord's baptism, or a little while 
after it. The other opinion would add from ten to twenty years 
to this." — Bethlehem, p. 132. 

Adhering to the side of the ancient pictures and anti- 
quity, we have also placed the death of St. Joseph " a lit- 
tle before the baptism," or in our Lord's twenty-ninth year. 
The marriage of Cana probably took place about His thir- 
tieth year, at which Mary would hardly have appeared 



*• 



292 ANNOTATIONS. 

during the first year and a month after the death of Joseph, 
which Jewish custom set apart for seclusion and mourning 
for the dead. 

In the cultus of the Church, St. Joseph is honored the 
19th of March. His feast has been raised by Pius IX to 
one of the First Class ; the feast of his patronage is also 
kept — uron the third Sunday after Easier. Holy Church 
in her office chants, March 19th: 

"The just shall flourish like the palm tree : lie shall grow up 
like a cedar of Lib anus ; being planted in the house of the Lord, 
in the courts of the house of our God." 

" Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be assisted by 
the merits of the spouse of Thy most holy Virgin Mother, and 
that what we cannot obtain through our own weakness may be 
granted us by his prayers." "Alleluia, Alleluia." " The Lord 
loved him and adorned him; He clothed him with a robe of 
glory. Alleluia. The just shall bud as the lily, and shall flourish 
forever before the Lord. Alleluia." "My truth and My mercy 
are with him, and in My Name shall his horn be exalted." 

" We pay Thee, O Lord, our bounden homage, humbly be- 
seeching Thee to preserve in us Thy gifts by the prayers of 
blessed Joseph, the husband of the mother of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, Thy Son." 

On the feast of the patronage "Give ear, Thou that rules f 
Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Glory." 

" God, who by Thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe t<> 
choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy mother, 
grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have, as our intercessor in 
heaven, him whom we venerate as our protector on earth." 

"Joseph is a growing son and comely to behold; the daughters 
run to and fro upon the wall. But they that held darts provoked 
him, and quarreled with him, and envied him; his bow rested 
upon the strong, and the bands of his arms and his hands were, 
loosed by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob: thence he-cann- 
forth a pastor, the stone of Israel. The God of thy father shall 
be thy Helper, and the Almighty shall bless thee ivith the blessings 
of heaven above, with the blessings of the deep that lieth beneath, 
with the blessings of the breast and of the womb. The blessings of 
thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers : until 
the desire of the everlasting hills should come. May they be upon 
the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his 
brethren.'' 



ANNOTATIONS. 293 

"Alleluia, Alleluia. In whatever tribulation they shall cry 
unto me, I will hear them, and I will he their protector always. 
Alleluia. () Joseph, obtain for us the blessings of a spotless life, 
and may it be safe under thy patronage. Alleluia." 1 "Sup- 
ported by the patronage of the spouse of Thy most holy mother, 
we beseech, O Lord, Thy clemency, that Thou cause our hearts 
to despise all that is earthly and to love Thee, the true God, with 
perfect charity." " Refreshed at the fountain of divine bounty, 
we beseech Thee, Lord God, that as Thou grantest us here the 
protection of blessed Joseph, so through his merits and interces- 
sion Thou grant us to share in the glory of heaven." 

II is feast lias a novena and triduum. The Churcli 
honors his marriage the 23d of January. Pilgrimages 
have been established in his honor for some hundred years 
Several devotions to St. Joseph have been indulgenced. 
He is Patron of Souls in Purgatory. The delightful devo- 
tion in honor of the seven joys and the seven sorrows of 
St. Joseph correspond to the similar devotion to Mary, his 
holy spouse. He has several confraternities, among which 
are the beautiful two: The Confraternity of the "Bona 
Mors" or a Good Death, and " The Association of the 
Perpetual Devotion to St. Joseph." 

St Bridget, St. Teresa, St. Bernard, St Franc's de 
Sales, St Gertrude, Gerson, Binet and others have revealed 
and written beautiful things of St. Joseph. Our humble 
book beside Jaequinot's Glories de St. Joseph looks but 
tame and cold. Faber names, beside, as some of the books 
most to be recommended on devotion to St. Joseph, Istoria di 
San Giuseppe, by RafFaello Maria, Carmelite ; Synopsis 
Magnalium Divi Joseph!,, by Ignatius of St. Francis, Car- 
melite ; Glorie di San Giuseppe, by Don Giuseppe Loxada 
Becerra, written in St Alphonso's lifetime; and in Imita- 
tion of the Glories of Mary and Vita di San Giuseppe, by 
Antonia Maria dalla Pergola, a Franciscan ; and especially 
the treatises of Gerson and the sermons of Bernardino, 



294 ANNOTATIONS. 

" the fountains from which all have drawn." When shall 
American Catholics possess all these good treasure* ? 

We have, however, for our English readers, Binet, who 
looked upon the brilliancy of the character of St. Joseph 
till each leaf of his book was one gleam of flowers and fruit 
in gold ; a sweet and thoughtful little book of "Devotion 
to St Joseph," rendered from the French of Father Patiig- 
nani by a pious and able pen, and "The Manual of St. 
Joseph," a large and choice book of prayer. Thanks be to 
God for all good food for devotion to St Joseph. Our 
country was under the united patronage of the Blessed Vir- 
gin and St. Joseph, moreover, before the desired decree of 
our Holy Father, Pius IX. 

"Decree for the City and the World. 

"As Almighty God appointed Joseph, son of the patriarch Ja- 
cob, over all the land of Egypt to save corn for the people, so 
when the fullness of time was come, and He was about to send 
on earth His only-begotten Son, the Saviour of the world, He 
chose another Joseph, of whom the first Joseph had been the 
type, and whom He made the lord and chief of His household, 
and possessor and guardian of His choicest treasures. So, also, 
He espoused to Himself the Immaculate Virgin Mary, of whom 
was born, by the Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, as 
before men, deigned to be reputed the son of Joseph, and was 
subject unto him. And He whom so many kings and prophets 
had desired to see, Joseph not only saw, but conversed with and 
embraced with paternal affection, and kissed and most seduously 
nourished, even Him whom the faithful were to receive as the 
Bread that came down from Heaven that they might obtain eter- 
nal life. On account of this most sublime dignity which God 
conferred on His most faithful servant, the Church has always 
most highly honored and praised the most blessed Joseph, next 
to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his 
intercession in times of trouble. And now that in these most 
troublous times the Church is beset by enemies on every side, 
and is weighed down by heavy calamities, so that ungodly men 
imagine the gates of hell to have at length prevailed against her, 
therefore the Venerable Prelates of the Catholic world have pre- 
sented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and those c p 



*/*> 



ANNOTATIONS. 295 

the Faithful committed to their charge, praying that he would 
vouchsafe to constitute St. Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church. 
They also renewed still more earnestly this their prayer and de- 
sire at the Sacred (Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. There- 
fore our most Holy Lord, Pius IX, Pope, being moved by the 
recent mournful events, has been pleased to comply with the de- 
sires of the Prelates, and to commit to St. Joseph's most power- 
ful patronage himself and all the Faithful, and has declared St. 
Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church, and has commanded 
his festival occurring on the 19th day of March to be celebrated 
as a Double of the First Class but yet without an octave on ac- 
count of Lent. 

"Finally, he has ordained that on this day, sacred to the 
Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, and her most chaste spouse, St. 
Joseph, a declaration to that effect by this present Decree of the 
Sacred Congregation of Kites be then published. All things to 
the contrary notwithstanding. 

"The 8th day of December, 1870. 

"CONSTANTINE, 

"Bishop of Ostia and Velletri ; Cardinal Patrisi, Prefect of 
the Sacred College. 



"Loco f Signi. 



"D. Bartolini, Sec. 



For which praised be God. There were, in this, our 
country, before the Universal Patronage of the very august 
St. Joseph, numerous churches, institutions of piety and 
learning, asylums for our orphans and our poor, that bore 
his blessed name and invoked his peculiar protection, and 
now they will multiply. Great is St. Joseph in America, 
and will be. Montreal, the Canadas, the British American 
Provinces, have taken a noble lead in devotion to St. Joseph. 
Several of our great States honor him and are honored by 
counties and towns bearing his name. Michigan has her 
St. Joseph county and town. The capitol city of Missouri 
bears on her broad brow the name of our Patriarch, and 
has its Bishop of St. Joseph and college of the Brothers of 
St. Joseph. Indiana, in her delightful northern climate, 
has her large St. Joseph county, in the heart of which sits 



*■ 



♦;«■ 



296 ANNOTATIONS. 

Notre Dame, St. Mary's and the House from which the 
"Ave 3Iaria " goes forth to thousands of homes — on the 
banks of the St. Joseph river — St. Mary's and St. Joseph's 
small lakes in the lovely landscapes — two little mirrors in 
enamel — all one nest of beauty — " the most Catholic mile 
in America" — grounds of the tomb of the venerable Brute, 
sanctified by many chapels. 

Elsewhere we have St. Joseph's street in our cities and 
towns, St. Joseph societies of laymen and the Brothers and 
Sisters of St. Joseph in our religious orders, and the de- 
votees of St. Joseph throughout our borders. 

May St. Joseph be always honored and loved throughout 
America and in the whole world. 

"All-glorious Saint Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus and Spouse 
of the Ever-Immaculate Mother of God, pray for us now and at 
the hour of our death. Amen." 

Difference of opinion exists amongst commentators as to 
the time and place where our Saviour was visited by the 
kings. We have followed the opinion of those who place 
the visit at Nazareth. 

"Let the name of St. Joseph be hosored." 



< 
— M 



